David Stanton
Question:14 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the gross registered tonnage of the fishing fleet in each of the years from 1995 to 1999. [3567/00]
Written Answers. - Fishing Fleet.
The capacity of the Irish fishing fleet, as expressed in gross registered tonnage, increased from 53,049 GRT in 1995 to 56,687 GRT in 1999. The figures for each of the years requested by the Deputy are in a table which I have circulated in the official report.
EU regulations now require all fishing fleets to be measured in gross tonnes which is the basis on which legally binding fleet capacity targets are set by the EU for each member state. The necessary readjustments are being carried out to ensure full transparency between the current capacity of the fleet by reference to mandatory GT targets to be achieved by end 2001. The difference between the two units of measurement is that GT calculations include certain enclosed spaces on board which could be exempted under the GRT governing rules. The capacity of a vessel in GT terms is therefore greater than its GRT. As a result the overall capacity of the fleet expressed in GT terms will be higher than the GRT figure.
|
Year |
GRT |
|
1995 |
53,049 |
|
1996 |
54,577 |
|
1997 |
54,060 |
|
1998 |
55,094 |
|
1999 |
56,687 |