Vol. 478 No. 4
269 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Marine the estimated value of fish taken illegally in Irish waters by fishing boats registered in other EU countries; the preventative measures, if any, proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11385/97]
Reliable estimates of illegal fish catches are by definition difficult to establish. On the question of fisheries statistics generally, which are currently compiled by reference to the distribution of fisheries resources by ICES zone rather than by reference to national waters, the commission itself acknowledges there is still an enormous amount of work to be done at EU level in compiling a reliable common data base on all aspects of EU fisheries, including fish stocks, catches, landings and sales.
Based on all available data sources at our disposal the Department has estimated that approximately one million metric tonnes of fish are caught annually in the Irish EEZ with a first sale value of some £700 million. The value of the Irish fleet catch as a component of this is £139 million. This calculation has been arrived at on the basis of: number of vessels fishing in the EEZ; percentage of allocated quotas taken by all member states; including Ireland in these waters; non quota stocks taken; catch per unit effort for certain fleets; log book and fisheries surveillance data.
The catch estimate derived from these data would include an unquantified component of illegal catch.
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. The vigilance and effectiveness of Ireland's fishery protection services, together with the stiff penalties provided for in our legislation, will continue to be a major deterrent against illegal fishing including under reporting or misreporting of catches.
