Michael Ring
Question:101 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been awarded tonnage on his boats; and the position with regard to his application. [9504/01]
Written Answers. - Fishing Vessel Licences.
A special scheme was introduced some years ago, with EU approval, to regularise the position of vessels which, although part of the fishing fleet, had not been formally licensed or registered. It applied only to vessels which had been in the fleet since 1989 and the closing date for applications was February 1995.
The individual concerned submitted applications for sea fishing boat licences in respect of three vessels in 1999, that is, four years after the deadline. In the circumstances it is not possible to grant licences under the special scheme. The licensing of his vessels must, therefore, be considered in accordance with the standard criteria of licensing policy, including the requirement to remove equivalent capacity from the fishing boat register. Letters offering licences to the applicant, subject to certain conditions, have been issued. To date the applicant has complied with all the conditions except the requirement to remove equivalent capacity.
My Department is currently examining the objective necessity for pursuing the case for a further limited special scheme with the Commission, in the context of the circumstances of the inshore fisheries sector and overall fleet management policy considerations.