Vol. 513 No. 6
187 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the BIM workshops, held in August and September 1999, with fishermen in Clogherhead and Howth; and if fishermen in smaller ports such as Balbriggan and Skerries are to have a say in formulating this proposed range of conservation measures to be acted upon at national and European levels. [3446/00]
Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Marine Institute and the Department held a series of workshops with fishermen around the coast last year to review the scope for additional technical conservation measures to protect juvenile fish stocks. Workshops were held at Clogherhead and Howth and the meetings were well publicised through BIM's area officers network and local fishermen's organisations.
The workshops were constructive and fed into the development of proposals on technical conservation measures by the national strategy review group on the Common Fisheries Policy. The group has published a report entitled Protecting Young Fish in the Seas – A Sustainable Future for European Fisheries Through Technical Conservation Measures. The report recommends a number of measures on mesh sizes, closed areas and closed seasons.
I will be giving high priority to progressing a comprehensive conservation strategy for vulnerable fish stocks and with the support and input of the Irish fishing industry, I will be pressing at EU level for enhanced measures across the board. The strategy group's report and ongoing liaison with fishermen right round the coast will be key elements in this initiative.
