Joe Walsh
Question:339 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for the Marine the number of flagships which fish in Irish coastal waters; the total volume of their catch in 1996; and the plans, if any, he has to reduce this number. [9129/97]
Written Answers - Flagships in Irish Coastal Waters.
I am extremely concerned about the flagship problem from a number of perspectives, notably the very serious difficulties of control and enforcement arising from their activities in our waters and the fact that flagships benefit from national quotas without providing real economic benefits for the fishing communities of the flag State. There are approximately 150 flagships operating in these waters. The majority are registered in the UK, there are 12 on the Irish register and some registered in France and Germany. They are owned, crewed and operated by companies or individuals in other EU member states, mostly Spain and their catch is mainly landed into other member states, which imposes particular enforcement problems.
Flagships fish against the quota allocations of the member state of registry and the management, control and access to national quotas by such vessels is a matter for the flag State concerned rather than the coastal State where fishing activity is carried out. Ireland has consistently pressed the UK authorities to co-operate more closely with us on the monitoring and control of the fishing activities of UK registered flagships in these waters and the Spanish authorities to improve the policing of landings into their ports. The initiative taken during the Irish Presidency to improve practical co-operation between member states on fisheries control and enforcement was designed, among other objectives to bring about substantially improved scrutiny by other member states of flagship activity and better information exchange.
Noting the general treaty provisions relating to right of establishment and freedom of movement, under which the operation of flagships is legitimate business, I am however, concerned to ensure that there is the necessary link between the economic benefits of national fish quotas and the national coastal areas dependent on fishing. I will continue to explore actively with the Commission, the UK and other member states, ways of securing that objective, in addition to pushing all relevant member states to ensure that the activities of flagships are adequately controlled both at sea and in port.
I am not prepared to tolerate flouting of fisheries law by flagships or any fishing vessels, irrespective of nationality, operating in these waters. European fish stocks are under severe pressure and the activities of flagships have to be recognised as one of the dimensions of the overall problem. Enhanced control by the flag states and the member states into which flagships catches are landed is essential to our efforts as a coastal State to rigorously enforce the rules. In relation to catches by flagships, the information currently available relates to direct landings into Ireland. My Department is currently compiling information concerning landings into other member states and I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as possible in this regard.