Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 1991

Vol. 406 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Spanish Fishing Vessels.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

9 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the serious obstruction which our Irish fishing trawlers are encountering off the south-west fishery coastline caused by Spanish fishery vessels which sail as trawlers but which in fact use miles of unattended gill nets thereby creating considerable difficulties for our trawlers, as well as applying severe pressure on fish stocks; the steps he will take to raise this matter at EC level; and whether he will also arrange to meet his Spanish counterpart to outline his objections.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): I am concerned about the illegal activities of de-registered, former Community vessels, fishing off our south and south-west coasts. In particular, I am most concerned about the serious detrimental impact that the use of massive gill nets by these vessels will have on fish stocks in the area. In my view it is essential that these illegal activities be eliminated quickly so that the legitimate rights of fishermen to fish in these waters are protected.

As a means of addressing this major threat to our fishermen, the Naval Service have been asked to intensify their efforts against such illegal operators. The matter has also been raised at recent meetings with senior EC Commission officials with the intention of finding some means of bringing these activities to an end. In addition, I have asked that the matter be included on the agenda of the forthcoming Council of Fisheries Ministers in mid April with a view to initiating a Community-based strategy aimed at ending these illegal operations. I am now informed that that item will be on the agenda for the April meeting.

Mr. Sheehan

While I welcome the Minister's reply it does not go far enough towards meeting the serious problem off the Cork-Kerry coast. Serious encounters have taken place between our native trawlers and Spanish trawlers. The Minister for Marine is well aware of this and that the fishing rights of our trawlers have been impinged by these foreign trawlers. I would appreciate if the Minister could see fit to take up with his Spanish counterpart the serious threat this poses to our fishing industry, particularly as the Spanish fleet are using a gill net fishing system.

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): The Minister has already taken up this matter with his Spanish counterpart. In addition to having it placed on the agenda for the April meeting he also intends taking it up again with the Spanish Minister. While the problem affects our fishermen, to a certain extent it is a Community problem and needs a Community-based solution. The matter was also raised on the recent visit to this country by the Director General of fishing. As I have already stated, the naval service has been alerted and have been making strenuous efforts to deal with such vessels, some of which have been arrested in recent times. There is a request for a greater naval and air corps presence. It still would be a daunting task to tackle the problem because of the vast number of vessels involved, but we are tackling it. As I have said, the matter is on the agenda for the April meeting of the Council of Ministers, and the Minister will be taking it up directly with his Spanish counterpart.

Mr. Sheehan

Is the Minister aware that illegal fishing by Spanish fishing vessels is causing problems with regard to monkfish stocks in the area?

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): Yes indeed. We noted in recent months that a sizeable fleet of deregistered fishing vessels are fishing hake and monkfish, mainly off the south and south-west coasts. It is estimated that there are as many as 300 such vessels fishing illegally in our waters. Most of these seem to be deregistered Spanish vessels. However, we are tackling the problem.

Mr. Garland

I note that the Minister admits to substantial illegal fishing off our coasts. Would he agree that this Government and indeed previous Governments have been unable to adequately police our coastal waters? Would he further agree that we should try to shift resources from the Army to the Navy, and would he undertake to meet the Minister for Defence to discuss this matter?

Mr. Noonan

(Limerick West): We are meeting the Minister for Defence on an on-going basis, but this seems to be a different question. If the Deputy puts down a separate question I will very gladly answer it.