Vol. 516 No. 4
51 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the proposals, if any, he has to compensate a group of fishermen (details supplied) for loss of earnings due to their inability to take their boats out since 14 February 2000; the reason this restriction was necessary; when this restriction will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8392/00]
Scientific advice for the Irish Sea cod stock, which became available in late 1999, suggested that the stock was in danger of total collapse unless an urgent stock recovery plan could be put in place during the current year. At the December Fisheries Council, the council and commission agreed that a recovery plan would have to be put in place this year to save this valuable fishery. Following detailed consultation with East coast fishermen in January and February discussions took place in Brussels between the commission and the member states and their fishing industries.
The first phase of the Irish Sea cod recovery plan, involving a closure of the northern part of the Irish Sea from mid-February to the end of April for the directed cod fishery was introduced by the commission on 10 February. As part of the recovery plan the commission had proposed a closure of a large area of the western Irish Sea for prawn fishing for the ten week period. Ireland opposed this closure and worked to keep as much as possible of the prawn grounds open in the interests of our fishermen. A small area of prawn grounds overlaps with the biggest concentration of spawning cod in the Irish Sea. The commission insisted on closing this particular area for the ten week period.
