The Deputy will be aware that Ireland and the other member states of the Community have fishery limits extending to 200 miles from baselines. Within that area member states, including Ireland, have exclusive fishing rights in their own coastal regions extending to six miles from baselines, while within the six to 12 mile zone fishing is reserved for fishermen of the coastal state and the fishermen of member states that have traditional rights in the area, subject of course to quota entitlements.
I believe that the protection afforded to coastal zones and inshore fishermen within this system is inadequate. In the current review of the Common Fisheries Policy, I am pressing to have the Irish exclusive coastal zone extended from six miles to 12 miles so that access within that zone would be reserved exclusively for Irish fishermen. I made a strong case to this effect at the meeting of the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Luxembourg last month. An exclusive 12-mile zone would, in my view, ensure more effective control of fishing activities, improve the conservation of stocks and better protect the economic and social position of inshore fishermen and coastal communities.
The Deputy should note, however, that achievement of an exclusive 12-mile zone will not be easy. In this regard I must point out that exclusive zones are a derogation from the general principle of freedom of access which is a central element of the Common Fisheries Policy and that any extension would require a positive decision by the Council of Ministers. It is not open to a member state to take unilateral action on this matter. Nevertheless, there is in my view a strong case for enhanced measures to protect inshore fisheries and the extension of exclusive zones would be a particularly effective means of so doing.