Vol. 466 No. 2
12 Mr. M. Smith asked the Minister for the Marine whether the surveillance intelligence available to him shows that over-fishing by foreign trawlers in Irish waters is much greater than anticipated and that 20 per cent of trawlers inspected are breaking EU fishing laws; and the step, if any, he will take to enable the Naval Services to deal effectively with this huge national loss. [11250/96]
Since the beginning of the year, a total of 324 foreign fishing vessels have been boarded and inspected by the Irish Naval Service. Of these 18 vessels or 5.5 per cent of the total were detained for serious breachers of fishery legislation such as under-recording of catch or having undersized fish on board. Prosecutions are now in train. A further 48 foreign vessels were given written warnings for minor breaches such as failure to have fishing licence on board. These did not warrant the detention of the vessel and crew.
The Naval Service, Air Corps and the Department are working intensively together to ensure that all our fishery surveillance resources are deployed to maximum effect. The two high technology CASA aircraft have enabled aerial surveillance to be maintained on fishing activity on a daily basis. In addition, from January of this year, all fishing vessels over 18 metres entering or leaving the Irish zone have to report their entry and exit in advance to the fishery protection services. These reports, together with the findings of the CASA aircraft, are transmitted electronically to fishery patrol vessels at sea. The combination of aerial surveillance and entry/exit reporting data is making for increasingly accurate and effective targeting by our patrol vessels and is providing an excellent continuous fix on all patterns and levels of fishing activity in Irish waters.
This control and enforcement regime backed up by stringent penalties is paying dividends. Boardings are going up and detentions, proportionately, are going down. This reflects the fact that fishermen are being forced increasingly to accept that illegal fishing is not worth the risk. That being said, I am still very concerned that there is a level of continued flouting of the law. We will continue to crackdown hard on non compliance as well as pursuing with other member states the need for firm action to put a stop to boats committing offences in EU waters. I am determined to safeguard stocks and eliminate illegal fishing in our waters. I am committed therefore to building on our track record to date to ensure that existing protection resources are deployed effectively and to further enhancing that capability with the significant EU financial support which has been made available to assist in that investment.
Is the Minister aware that a committee of experts in the European Commission proposed a further reduction of 40 per cent in certain species for 1996-97 and that the overall total allowable catch of the Community will drop by in excess of 20 per cent in ensuing years? Does he accept that normally the Commission proposes global reductions, in other words, the fleet that causes the problem suffers no greater reduction in its catch than those others, like the Irish one, which because of their size and age are not involved?
It pays to flout the law and the Minister has said he is worried by the manner in which it is being flouted. Would he accept that as much as £2 billion in value of fish stocks can be taken from our waters in one year by European trawlers, particularly the Spanish, as a hidden subsidy? Does he know that this very day a Spanish trawler has been detained in Castletownbere, which has held no fishing licence for two years and has no records maintained of the monk-tail fish it has caught? Does he agree that we are not in a position to deter such actions and are suffering on a double front? Will the Minister tackle this problem? Will he ensure that the global reductions effected by the Community in terms of total allowable catch will not take place and that those guilty of over-fishing will suffer a much greater reduction in their catch than those like the Irish fleet who are innocent in this respect? Can he confirm that the surveillance and other information available to him through additional aircraft availability is such that we are unable to cope with so many incidents of flouting of the law at sea?
I can assure the Deputy that the total allowable catch will not be settled until the December Council meeting. I can also assure him that I shall do precisely what I did last year, that is fight our corner to ensure that our fishermen are allocated a reasonable percentage of fish in the total allowable catch. We consistently put forward proposals to stamp out illegal fishing. I do not accept that any member state should be entitled to flout the law and during our Presidency of the European Union we will pursue a number of issues, including conservation proposals, technical conservation measures and further surveillance packages. We will also ensure that the reporting of the catch, a measure that is due to be implemented on 1 January 1998, takes place.
One of the principal problems facing us is the activities of flag ships crewed by Spanish fishermen under the British flag. I raised that matter with the UK minister whom I met in London two weeks ago. As a result of that meeting he agreed to his officials co-operating fully with ours to deal with this issue. I intend, as I have done before, to raise that matter with the EU Commissioner whom I will meet on 8 June and to ensure it will be addressed during our Presidency of the European Union.
I will take any steps I can to ensure regulations are adhered to and any further steps necessary will be taken to prevent the people flouting the law. My primary role in the fisheries area is to ensure Irish fishermen get a fair deal, given that going back to 1972 we did not get a fair one and have been struggling ever since to get one. I will not give up that struggle and will use every opportunity to ensure that the wrongs we suffered are redressed.
In terms of surveillance, I am impressed with the level of technology, the advances made in co-operation between the Air Corps and the Naval Service, the tracking methods in place, the information available and its transfer to make the job easier. We have made great strides and we are continuing to advance on our achievements to date. I will join the Deputy in doing all I can to assist the industry and to ensure our fishermen get their fair share.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I wish to ask a brief question.
We are five minutes beyond the allocated time and we have expended all priority time on the Deputy's question. I must be fair. I call on the Minister to reply to Question No. 13.
I wish to ask a brief question.
I must be fair to all parties and individuals.
Time was lost before this question was taken.
I am bending Standing Orders to facilitate Deputies.
