Vol. 521 No. 2
27 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the continuing use of illegal fishing gear off the south-west coast; and the plans he has to control the situation. [16780/00]
Technical conservation measures are an integral part of the Common Fisheries Policy and are designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of fish stocks by conserving and pro tecting juvenile and undersize fish. EU conservation regulations prescribe, among other measures, minimum mesh sizes for fixed and towed gear which may be used in various fisheries as well as landing sizes of fish and shellfish.
I am aware of allegations that certain fishing vessels operating off the south-west coast are using gear which does not conform with the EU technical conservation regulations. I assure the Deputy that I take a very serious view of the matter. Illegal fishing of this nature is detrimental to the conservation of fish stocks which is already under pressure. My Department has, therefore, requested the Naval Service to be highly vigilant in relation to checking fishing gear during boardings of fishing vessels at sea. My Department's sea fisheries officers are intensifying their port based inspections of nets and gear of fishing vessels for compliance with conservation regulations. The Deputy can be assured that appropriate action will follow in every case where illegal gear is found to be in use.
I have already underlined to Commissioner Fischler the need for enhanced EU conservation measures over and above those already in place. Greater protection for undersized and juvenile fish stocks is required. With the support of the Irish fishing industry and backed up by the work of the CFP strategy group on technical conservation, I will continue to press the case in the coming months. In the meantime, ensuring and enforcing compliance with existing conservation measures will continue to be a key priority for our fishery protection services.
Is the Minister aware that in the past year there has been extensive use of Castletownbere port by foreign fishing trawlers when approximately 300 of them called at the port? There is extreme concern among the fishing community in Castletownbere that the vessels are using under sized mesh measuring 90 millimetres as opposed to 120 millimetres. Will the Minister indicate what can be done in relation to the size of the nets these vessels are using which can be proven on landing, though they cannot be physically caught at sea? Will he clarify the reaction of his Department to a complaint raised some weeks ago concerning a 150 feet French steel trawler off the 12 mile zone? This trawler intimidated wooden trawlers of up to 70 feet from the Castletownbere area and was using gill nets up to 12 miles long. How seriously do we take this type of incident given that the French trawler was allowed to get away? Interestingly, the trawler called the Magdalene was arrested and brought to Castletownbere today for fishing with these types of nets. Can I take it on the basis of the Minister's reply that there will be increased vigilance by the Naval Service in ensuring many more arrests where this type of intimidation takes place and where under sized fish are being caught by these trawlers?
In the first instance, there is no evidence to date of the allegation made by the Deputy. Fishermen in the south and west have made allegations that certain foreign vessels are fishing with nets which do not comply with EU regulations. Checking of gear type is a standard practice of inspections by the Naval Service and the Department's fishery control staff. There have not been significant instances of the use of illegal gear by foreign fishing vessels in the recent past. However, as the Deputy said, there have been some developments recently and I will ask both the Naval Service and my sea fishery officers to increase their surveillance in response to the point made. The type of illegal operation with nets or the type of incident to which the Deputy referred cannot be accepted and I will do my best to stamp it out.
Can fishery control officers take action within a port if the mesh size of nets on board vessels can be physically seen and do not conform to recognised EU standards? I am aware vessels can be boarded at sea if it can be proven they are catching undersized fish. Obviously the Naval Service have detention in mind in this type of situation and can take these vessels ashore to prosecute them. If it is proven that nets are on board a vessel, can the fishery control officers take action by impounding the vessel or the nets or can they take action against the vessel itself?
Regular checks are undertaken by the sea fishery control officers of my Department to ensure compliance with the regulations. I am sure they can take action where they find a breach of the regulations. There is close and regular co-operation between my Department and the Naval Service in that matter, therefore, if there are illegal nets on board a vessel there is no reason the matter cannot be dealt with.
