(Donegal South-West) asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the means available to his Department to monitor stocks of fish inside our own fishing limits.
Written Answers. - Irish Fishing Limits.
418.
The scientific staff of my Department based at the modern Fisheries Research Centre at Abbotstown, Castleknock, County Dublin, and availing of the facilities of field stations at Dunmore East, Castletownbere and Killybegs, carry out a systematic scheme of monitoring fish stocks in Irish waters through sampling of catches landed in the various ports. Sampling of larvae, eggs, plankton and some adult population is also carried out at sea using chartered commercial fishing vessels pending the acquisition of a new fisheries research vessel. My Department also participates in international research projects in our waters and through the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea has access to the research results of other countries.