Vol. 509 No. 5
57 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his position in relation to alternative methods of fishing for tuna other than drift netting; and if the pilot programme has been successful. [20748/99]
In 1998, I secured EU and Exchequer funding to carry out trials on alternative methods of fishing for tuna, other than drift netting. This year I again secured EU and Exchequer funding to carry out further trials. Owners of vessels interested in participating in pelagic trawling, surface long lining and trolling trials were invited to apply and their applications were subsequently evaluated by BIM on the basis of a number of criteria including experience and performance, vessel range, deck layout, fish handling and holding arrangements and communications equipment.
Following assessment, 20 vessels were contracted by BIM to carry out tuna diversification trials. Over the next two months BIM will be carrying out a thorough evaluation of the trials. The board expects that reports on the trials, to be submitted to the Department and to the EU respectively, will be available over the coming months. Early indications are very positive as good quantities of tuna were caught using methods other than drift netting, and many of the technical difficulties encountered during the 1998 trials were overcome. A workshop will be hosted by BIM and the Marine Institute in the south west in late November and this will provide an opportunity for the fishing industry to assess the outcome of the trials.
58 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the follow up action, if any, taken following the report on the physical interaction between the grey seals and the inshore fisheries in Irish coastal waters. [20739/99]
As the House will be aware I have no direct function in relation to seals which are a protected species under the terms of the Wildlife Acts administered by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. That being said, I would be concerned at any excessive losses incurred in Irish fisheries due to predation. In addition, the Marine Institute and BIM, in association with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, are involved in examining the impact of predators on fish stocks and undertake studies as necessary to assess such impacts.
