Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004
118 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he plans to reintroduce gill netting for sea bass in Irish waters; and if so, if he has carried out an analysis of the effect of such fishing practices on wild salmon stocks. [31243/04]
View answerThe Bass (Conservation of Stocks) Order, in place since 1990, prohibits the commercial fishing of sea bass by Irish sea fishing boats. The domestic conservation measures for sea bass are kept under review on an annual basis, in light of scientific assessments by the Central Fisheries Board and the Marine Institute of the State of sea bass stocks as well as assessments of the impact of commercial fishing effort on sea bass stocks by other member states.
This year, following a review of the scientific assessments relating to sea bass, it was decided that the Bass (Restriction on Sale) Order should be renewed for a further year. The effect of this order is to prohibit the sale or offer for sale of bass, other than bass which has been imported into the State, from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. The bass fishing conservation by-law which imposes a bag limit on anglers of two bass in any one period of 24 hours and provides for a ban on angling for bass during the spawning season was also renewed this year.
These domestic conservation measures for sea bass will continue to be kept under review by the Department in light of scientific stock assessments. However, I do not consider that it would be advisable, taking into account the scientific advice, to introduce a gill net fishery for this stock.
