Vol. 526 No. 5
7 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that commercial trawlers have been fishing for the past two weeks in the designated special area of conservation of the River Shannon Estuary; and the action he has taken to end this illegal activity which is also a threat to sea angling activity in this area. [26945/00]
My Department has investigated the recent activities of several fishing vessels in the Shannon Estuary, between Scattery Island and Kilrush. Two fishing vessels were trawling for sprat in the area in question for a period and they have since moved on. Two other small vessels have been reported to be engaged in some fishing for sprat in recent days. This fishing activity was legitimate under the terms of the sea fishing boat licences of the vessels concerned. Sprat is a migratory species and the advice available to me is that the stock itself is moving on.
The lower River Shannon, including the Shannon Estuary, has been identified by Dúchas as a candidate area for designation as a special area of conservation – SAC – in accordance with the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997. My Department's sea fisheries control division advises that fishing for sprat and the gears used in the Shannon Estuary will not adversely affect the ecological integrity of the area or pose a threat to marine mammals and other marine life or ecosystems.
On the broader front my Department is engaged in detailed consultations with Dúchas on arrangements and parameters in relation to the future protection of SACs. Those consultations will be ongoing, having regard to the specific conservation objectives specified for SACs and the needs and concerns of the fishing and fish farming sectors within the SAC framework.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a fhreagra. While I understand the activity was licensed and, therefore, legal in the general sense, does he now say that such activity in an SAC area would be acceptable to him in future or is it the case that this will not be allowed happen again in an area such as the Shannon Estuary?
The fishing activity was legitimate under the terms of the fishing boat licences of the vessels concerned.
I do not argue that the activity was licensed. Given that we discussed Committee Stage of the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill recently in the House, does the Minister accept that an SAC designation rules out interference by fishing of this nature in an SAC area? Will he say that such activity will not be tolerated in future in an SAC designated area such as the Shannon Estuary?
The regulations under the SACs are a flexible instrument which allow the protection measures of an area to be specified in the specific conservation needs and requirements of the area. They do not contain a blanket ban on commercial fishing or on any other type of activity.
Is the Minister aware of the protests received from the wildlife ranger in the area and from Dúchas? Does he not accept that, in the view of Dúchas and the wildlife ranger concerned, it is an unacceptable activity? Neither is it acceptable to sea anglers in the area who inter pret the area to be a protected one in which such fishing activity is illegal.
We are talking about fishing for sprat.
We are. It is in an area which is an SAC.
What effect would that have on sea anglers?
The sea anglers will have to speak for themselves but my understanding is that they feel the activity interferes with the integrity of the SAC, and they have an interest, as we all do, in conservation. The area is renowned for dolphins which are an important tourism attraction for the area. The fishing activity is, in essence, an interference with their habitat and they have been recognised under the SAC designation as having an entitlement not to be disturbed.
The Deputy is confusing two separate issues. We all want to see conservation and ensure sea angling is not affected by intensive fishing by commercial fishermen in areas which have potential for sea angling. The question of interference with dolphins or other mammals is a separate question and I am sure everyone would be of the view that we should ensure that no activity takes place which endangers the presence of dolphins in the Shannon Estuary or any other area. I am satisfied, given the limited amount of sprat fishing which occurred in this area, that that would not happen.
It is fair to say that we would all be concerned were there to be fishing activity which would interfere with dolphins or other mammals because it is a most welcome development to see dolphins coming into the Shannon Estuary and other parts of the coast. As has been proved in the case of Dingle, we welcome them and like to see them stay. We are not going to endanger their presence.
