Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 4

Written Answers. - Sea Fishing Licences.

Ivor Callely

Question:

75 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine if he will give details of the process for the issue of sea fishing licences; if he or his Department has received submissions on this matter; if he has any proposals to change the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Andrews)

All vessels wishing to engage in commercial sea fishing must be entered on the current sea fishing boat register. In order for a vessel to be entered on the register, it must first obtain a sea fishing boat licence.

In order to obtain a sea fishing boat licence, applicants are required to provide full details with regard to the vessel, its ownership and proposed fishing operations for consideration by the Department of the Marine.

Licence applications are decided upon in line with current policy which requires that, prior to a licence being issued:

—applicants must withdraw active capacity (in terms of both tonnage and horsepower) from the current fishing boat register at least equivalent to that of the proposed new boat. Special conditions apply to the Beam Trawler and pelagic fleets, where the capacity being withdrawn must be from the same sector of the fleet as the new vessel being introduced;

—the new vessel be safe and sea-worthy;

—the skipper/owner is duly qualified under the relevant legislation in force;

—no decommissioning grant has been paid in respect of the vessel;

—proof of ownership be furnished.

I must also be satisfied that the economic and social benefits arising from the exploitation of the target species of the boat involved will accrue primarily to the coastal regions and communities which the quotas are designed to benefit.

If the applicant complies with the above criteria a licence will issue in respect of the vessel. Depending on the size and type of vessel, the licence may contain certain conditions restricting the fishing operations of the vessel. On receipt of the licence, the owner must apply for the vessel to be registered under the Merchant Shipping (Registry, Lettering and Numbering of Fishing Boats) Regulations, 1989.

In regard to the second part of the question, I can confirm that no recent submissions have been received regarding the process of the issue of licences.

The Department is at present engaged in the process of carrying out a comprehensive review of the current licensing policy in the light of the recent fleet capacity targets set by the European Commission. It is hoped to finalise this review within the next two months with a view to holding consultations with the fishing industry.