Vol. 487 No. 3
63 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will license the taking of shellfish by divers under certain conditions as happens in other countries as the seabed is least disturbed by this method of fishing. [3899/98]
The taking of shellfish and crustaceans by divers has been prohibited by law in this country since 1965. There were a number of reasons the prohibition was introduced. Principally, there was widespread concern amongst traditional fishermen around the coast at the effect which divers were having on stocks especially in relation to scallops and crayfish.
The levels of catch by divers severely depleted stocks and threatened the economic survival of inshore fishermen. Stocks were also threatened by the fact that diving for crayfish and scallops was at its highest during the summer months when the fishery was closed to traditional fishermen for conservation purposes. In addition, the diving method provided very little employment and usually yielded nothing to the local coastal community.
