Vol. 384 No. 8
asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to moneys which were collected by the North Eastern Anglers Federation to help pay for the patrol boat in the Dundalk area, County Louth; the amount given to the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board; and in view of the action he has taken in this regard, if he will ensure that this money is returned immediately to the North Eastern Anglers Federation.
49.
asked the Minister for the Marine (a) the number of fishermen in the Dundalk bay area, County Louth, who have had nets confiscated by the Eastern Regional Fisheries patrol boat in (i) 1987 and (ii) 1988 (b) the date on which he made an order to sell some of the confiscated nets back to one of the fishermen and the price involved (c) if it is normal practice for him to intervene; and if not, the reason he did so in this case and (d) if legal action was taken by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board; and, if so, the result.
I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 46 and 49 together.
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board as part of its normal practice relating to fisheries management confiscates nets used in illegal fishing from time to time as it considers necessary. The board confiscated 20 nets in 1987 and 17 nets in 1988. In the case mentioned by the Deputy prosecution and conviction by the courts followed. In accordance with the powers conferred on me by the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 and having considered all aspects of the case including the circumstances of the individual concerned, I decided on 29 June 1988 that unlawful gear should be destroyed and instructed the board to sell the remaining gear to the individual concerned for a nominal sum. The actual amount charged was a matter for the board to decide.
I wish to commend the federation for their financial assistance to the board in 1987. Their support was most useful to the board in attending to its functions in the protection, conservation and development of fisheries and was much appreciated. I wish to emphasise that this arrangement took place between the board and the federation and as such I have no function in the matter.
