Peadar Clohessy
Question:38 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Marine the number of fishing vessels taken into custody by the Irish Authorities that were found to contain secret compartments for the storage of fish. [14976/95]
Written Answers. - Secret Storage in Fishing Vessels.
Mary Harney
Question:53 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Marine the number of fishing vessels taken into custody by the Irish Authorities that were found to contain secret compartments for the storage of fish. [14975/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 53 together.
None of the vessels detained for illegal fishing in Irish waters during 1994 or to date this year were found to have secret fish storage compartments. This compares with 1993 when 16 vessels detained by the Naval-Service were found to have concealed fish holds. Some of these vessels had undersized fish stored in the hidden holds while others contained undeclared catch or nets of undersize mesh. In the resultant prosecutions fines and forfeitures in excess of £370,000 wer imposed by the courts.
The Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1994 has provided for substantial penalties for serious breaches of fishery laws including secret holds for which specific offence there are penalties of up to £200,000.
There is no doubt that the deterrent effect of the heavy penalties (the highest in Europe) together with tight enforcement and a very effective detection record by the Naval Service is driving the message home to would-be offenders that secret holds are no longer worth the risk. The statistics which I quoted earlier vividly confirm this. That being said, we have not, and will not, relax our vigilance on this front or indeed in the overall ongoing effort to ensure that all vessels fishing in Irish waters comply with the rules.
Ireland has been at the forefront in the EU in pressing for tighter controls and I look forward at the Fisheries Council next week to agreeing with colleagues the new rigorous control regime which will apply in Western waters from next year as well as an overall envelope of EU funding support for the costs of surveillance.