Vol. 548 No. 5
103 Mr. Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the provisions with regard to 18 fishermen who can only drift-net fish to compensate them for converting their vessels or in some cases replace their existing vessels for pelagic trawling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5625/02]
As part of the package negotiated in 1998 to postpone the introduction of the ban on drift-netting for albacore tuna until 2002, the Council of the European Union agreed to a provision that the number of authorised drift-net participants from 1998 onwards would not exceed 60% of those with a track record in the fishery in the period 1995 to 1997. On this basis, we have been in a position to issue in the four year phase-out period 18 drift-net licences to prosecute this lucrative fishery, to individuals with the requisite track record.
