Vol. 534 No. 4
97 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will approve a pelagic fishing licence for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry to enable him fish for herring and mackerel in the Celtic Sea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10903/01]
The sea-fishing boat licence issued to the company concerned precludes the vessel from fishing for herring and mackerel because the vessels offered as tonnage replacement capacity are not recorded as having an active history of fishing for pelagic species, which is a licensing policy requirement. In this context an active pelagic history is defined as a vessel with a minimum of four months fishing record for these species in each of the last four years. The company concerned accepted the terms of the licence prior to issue. In order for the vessel concerned to be permitted to fish for herring and mackerel it would be necessary to remove equivalent tonnage capacity with the requisite active pelagic history.
Consultations with the representative organisations are ongoing on this issue as well as other components of the pelagic preclusion licensing policy.
