Vol. 474 No. 6
295 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine the total number of fines collected for fishing offences in 1995 and 1996; the nationality of the foreign vessels in this regard; the total amount of fines outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3473/97]
The following table indicates for 1995 and 1996 the number of fishing vessel detentions, the number of cases prosecuted, the number of cases outstanding, and the amount of fines and forfeitures relating to cases prosecuted to date, together with the countries of registry of the vessels concerned.
|
Year |
Detentions |
Total number of cases prosecuted |
Country of Registry |
Number of outstanding cases |
Fines and forfeitures |
|
£ |
|||||
|
1995 |
55 |
40 |
17 British |
11 |
888,833 |
|
10 Irish |
|||||
|
13 Spanish |
|||||
|
1996 |
38 |
25 |
11 British |
8 |
1,341,431 |
|
3 Irish |
|||||
|
4 Spanish |
|||||
|
1 French |
|||||
|
1 Dutch |
|||||
|
3 German |
|||||
|
2 Japanese |
296 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine the progress, if any, made to stop illegal fishing and other such fishing offences; the additional proposals, if any, there are to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3474/97]
The Naval Service, the Air Corps and the Department are working intensively together to ensure that all our fishery surveillance resources are deployed to maximum effect. Since 1 January 1996, all fishing vessels over 18 metres entering or leaving the Irish zone have had to report their entry and exit in advance to the fishery protection services. These reports, together with the data provided by the aerial surveillance flights of the CASA aircraft, are transmitted electronically to fishery patrol vessels at sea.
The combination of aerial surveillance and entry/exit reporting data has enabled increasingly accurate and effective targeting by our patrol vessels and is providing a detailed overview of both the patterns and levels of fishing activity in Irish waters. This control and enforcement regime backed up by stringent penalties is paying dividends. Boardings of fishing vessels increased in 1996 while the level of detentions proportionately decreased. Additional EU measures including the introduction of satellite monitoring together with "realtime" catch reporting which are scheduled for 1998, will further enhance our ability to monitor and deal with illegal fishing activity.
