Vol. 568 No. 2
82 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will report on the monitoring of the Irish Box by his Department and the Department of Defence; his views on the May 2003 meetings of the Fisheries Council in Brussels, when proposals were tabled to greatly reduce the size of the Irish Box; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15913/03]
The monitoring of activities in waters within Ireland's exclusive economic zone, including the Irish Box, is undertaken by the Irish Naval Service and the Irish Air Corps, agencies of the Department of Defence. My Department is kept informed routinely as to the trends and levels of activities detected in these waters. Particular attention has been paid to vessel activities within the Irish Box as this area has been the subject of particular fisheries measures. The Irish authorities are, therefore, continuing to monitor activity within the Irish Box closely. In relation to the specific restriction on the number of Spanish vessels permitted within the Irish Box at one time, the number has remained below the 40 vessels threshold in the relevant EU regulations.
In so far as the May Fisheries Council is concerned, our position is that the latest proposals discussed at that Council fall short of what is required. Our primary focus is to ensure that fish stocks around our coast receive the necessary level of protection. The new proposals have, however, moved significantly from the position adopted by the Commission last December, which effectively abolished the Irish Box. Accordingly, our campaign over recent months for retention of the Irish Box against outright opposition from the Commission has made some progress. The latest proposals, while they do not in our view go far enough, recognise the need to retain certain restrictions on fishing. This issue is due to be discussed again at the Fisheries Council on 12 June. We will in that context emphasise and reinforce the primary consideration which is that stocks in this biologically sensitive area must be conserved.
