Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 5

Written Answers. - Fisheries Protection.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

27 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that the quota system has been successful in sustaining a viable cod fishing industry for fishermen; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in parts of the world particularly around the Shetland Islands, indigenous fishermen have been forced to dump marketable fish overboard while French and Spanish fishermen were allowed to catch fish in the same area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26944/00]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Fahey)

Cod stocks throughout EU waters are under serious threat and we are facing hard decisions on TAC levels for 2001 in the forthcoming Fisheries Council. With the support of the Irish industry, and backed by the findings of the national CFP strategy group, I am continuing to press for radical new conservation measures including additional stock recovery programmes, as well as increased mesh sizes which will demonstrably deliver significant reductions on discard rates. Rigorous enforcement by all member states of existing conservation, measures including minimum size restrictions and mesh sizes, is a key imperative also. The problem created by discarding slipping and high grading of fish must be addressed systematically through inter alia observers on boats programmes and a review of other potential measures such as the Norwegian strategy of banning discards altogether.