John Perry
Question:858 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures in place to combat illegal commercial net fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28843/06]
View answerWednesday, 27 September 2006
Questions (785, 786, 787, 788)
Written answers
The competent authority for fisheries control in Ireland is the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources through its control services. This work is carried out through close co-operation with the Irish Naval Service and Aer Corps. The Naval Service, from its base at Haulbowline controls and monitors all fisheries activities within Ireland's EEZ. Approximately 90% of naval time and resources is devoted to fisheries protection work. This work is supported by control and surveillance activities carried out by the Aer Corps. Sea-Fishery Protection Officers in the Department form the land-based control services for ports and other landing places. The new Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 modernises, consolidates and updates all of Ireland's sea fisheries legislation. It has in particular many features that strengthen Ireland's system of control and enforcement of the provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy, including in particular the combating of illegal fishing. The Act provides Sea-Fishery Protection Officers with various powers to enable them to provide effective control of fisheries and conduct effective investigations into fisheries cases. Specific powers are provided related to the detention of fishing boats and persons onboard where illegal fishing is suspected, offences related to the obstruction and assault of Sea-Fisheries Protection Officers engaged in their lawful work. The Act also lays down provisions for penalties and forfeitures in fisheries cases. The Act also makes provision for the establishment of a new Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. The new Authority will come into being on 1 January 2007 and will oversee control and enforcement of fisheries legislation in Ireland. At EU level, a new Maritime Control Agency is being set up to promote greater co-ordination and co-operation on control across the Union. These measures are all designed to combat illegal fishing and it is the responsibility of each Member State with participants in the fishery concerned to ensure that their fishermen comply with the regulations.
John Perry
Question:859 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the measures in place to combat illegal angling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28844/06]
View answerThere is a considerable body of legislation, both primary and secondary, relating to the illegal capture of fish from rivers. This legislation is in place to conserve and protect our inland fisheries stocks. Under the Fisheries Acts, the Central and regional fisheries boards are primarily responsible for the management and protection of fisheries including measures in relation to enforcement. Each year the Department provides substantial Exchequer funds to the fisheries boards to carry out their statutory functions, including the combating of illegal angling.
John Perry
Question:860 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources a breakdown of the amount of illegally caught salmon found in the last quarter, six months, to date in 2006 and each of the years 2000 to 2005; if these fish were caught by nets or by rod; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28845/06]
View answerUnder the Fisheries Acts, responsibility for enforcement of inland fisheries legislation rests primarily with the Central and regional fisheries boards. As the queries raised by the Deputy are an operational matter for the individual Boards, I have contacted the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Fisheries Board to ensure that the information sought is collated and forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
John Perry
Question:861 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources a breakdown of the amount of illegally caught fish by species found in the last quarter, six months, to date in 2006 and for each of the years 2000 to 2005; the way these fish were caught; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28846/06]
View answerWhen the Department or the Naval Service detects illegal fishing activity, the case is referred to the Attorney General's Office for consideration and appropriate action, including prosecution when considered appropriate. In relation to wide ranging allegations brought to the attention of the Ministers in the summer of 2004 and subsequent wide ranging allegations, taking account of the matters raised and the potential seriousness of the allegations, the matters were formally referred to An Garda Síochána for investigation. Those investigations are ongoing and are solely a matter for An Garda Síochána and I have no role in these investigations. Any findings of illegal landings determined in such investigations and reported to the Department will, in accordance with legal advice, be reported to the EU Commission. Late last year the UK authorities advised that a quantity of mackerel amounting to over 40,000 tonnes had been determined as having been landed illegally in Scotland and not officially declared, by Irish-registered fishing boats. The quantities related to landings over the period 2001 to 2005. The UK authorities have the formal responsibility for informing the EU Commission in respect of landings into UK ports and have formally reported the quantity involved in respect of Irish registered vessels for 2005. The UK authorities have not at this time formally reported data to the EU Commission for the years 2001 to 2004 but have indicated the quantities involved to the Commission and to the Department.
Data on illegal landings detected by the Department's control staff and the Naval Service relates to individual cases and is presented to the Attorney General's Office for consideration in relation to possible subsequent legal proceedings. Accordingly, I do not consider it advisable to make the data sought available at this time as it could impact on any prosecutions taken against those involved. Any findings of illegal landings determined in investigations and reported to the Department will, in accordance with legal advice, be reported to the EU Commission, as required by EU legislation. The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, recently enacted by the Oireachtas, is intended to strengthen Ireland's capacity to provide a dissuasive code of deterrents and sanctions to address over-fishing and all illegal fishing activity.