Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004
36 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that fishing efforts by foreign trawlers will not increase in the fishing area, outside of the new Irish box area, but in the area formerly referred to as the Irish box on the west and north west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19296/04]
View answerThe agreement reached at last week's Fisheries Council sets fishing effort limits on the fleets of the relevant member states in various areas in western waters. These limits were set on the basis of fishing activity by those fleets over the period 1998-2002, inclusive. Accordingly, as future effort levels are capped by this reference period, the question of increased fishing effort by any fleet either inside or outside the new Irish Box area does not arise.
The framework for establishing these effort limits was agreed by Fisheries Ministers last October and the finalisation of the effort ceilings last week was in accordance with this agreed framework.
The Irish industry has broadly welcomed the agreement, particularly for the new Irish box area to the west and south of Ireland where most of the Irish whitefish catch is taken — about two thirds of the total. The protection of fish stocks in this most sensitive and vulnerable area was therefore Ireland's main priority and I very much welcome and appreciate the industry's support for the measures now in place for this biologically sensitive area.
Overall, fishing effort limits agreed last week provide the necessary protection for fish stocks in waters around Ireland, both inside and outside the new Irish Box.
