Vol. 544 No. 4
83 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the depletion of fish stocks with particular reference to certain species; if he proposes to take initiatives at EU level in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28946/01]
The Marine Institute and the international scientific bodies have recently finalised the annual assessments of the current status of EU fish stocks. On the basis of this advice, there is a serious concern that many stocks appear to be outside biological limits. There is particular concern about key whitefish stocks such as cod and hake and some of the herring stocks which also appear to be in decline.
The European Commission, with the support of Ireland, has put in place emergency stock recovery plans for Irish Sea cod, northern hake and cod on the north-west coast. It is too early to evaluate the results of these new initiatives, and discussions have recently commenced in Brussels on the appropriate follow-up to these emergency measures. Ireland has been a leading advocate of stock recovery programmes.
The strategies for stock recovery and sustainable fishing are being debated in the context of the review of the Common Fisheries Policy. That debate will intensify in the coming year. Technical conservation measures have an important role to play and I will continue to press for effective new technical conservation measures designed to deliver stock recovery and sustainable fishing opportunities for the future.
