Peadar Clohessy
Question:20 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Marine his policy in regard to the future of drift net fishing off the Irish coast and in international waters.
Written Answers. - Drift Net Fishing.
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:30 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine the proposals, if any, he has to deal with the future of drift net fishing for salmon.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 30 together.
There is a Community-wide ban on the use of drift nets in excess of 2.5 kilometres either within Community waters or by Community vessels in international waters.
A similar Community ban also applies to all fishing for salmon by any means outside 12 miles from baselines. In addition there exists a range of national measures designed to regulate drift net fishing for salmon within 12 miles and ensure that sufficient numbers of salmon escape back to their rivers of origin to spawn and guarantee the continuity of the species. This is also intended to ensure that anglers and other categories of netsmen can be afforded an opportunity of securing an equitable share of the overall salmon catch.
These measures include restrictions on the numbers of licences to use drift nets, no fishing for two days at weekends, annual close seasons, restrictions on the size of boat and maximum length and depth of nets that may be used and a ban on the use of monofilament material in drift nets.