Vol. 359 No. 10
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry given the critical state of fish stocks in the North Sea, the very low level of spawning stock, the very high fish mortality rate in 1984 and the fact that there has been no evidence of recruitment of stocks since 1972, if he agrees that it is crucial that the 1985-86 catch will be fixed at a level that will enable the spawning stock biomass to be renewed.
24.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he considers that changes noted by marine experts in the distribution of fish, especially juveniles, within the south-west box, may have implications for the box's future; whether the future of the box is being discussed at EC level and the nature of such talks.
25.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in the light of expert reports that the 1986 EC Western Mackerel TAC may be considerably lower than the 1985 TAC of 375,000 tonnes due to the poor spawning stock in the 1984 year class, if he can give any indication as to the nature and progress of talks on the matter at EC level, especially in relation to the need to restore the levels of exploitable stocks.
I propose to take Questions No. 23 to 25, inclusive, together. The scientific opinion referred to by the Deputy has only recently come to hand and as of yet there have been no proposals, and consequently no discussion, on these matters at EC level. I can assure the Deputy that when we come to discuss the 1986 Total Allowable Catches and Quotas I will be paying particular attention to the western mackerel stock, including the matter of the distribution of juveniles in the south-west box. While the North Sea stocks are not of direct importance to Irish fishermen I would nevertheless agree that 1986 catch rates should be fixed at a level which will enable the stock biomass to recover.
