Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
849. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Ireland has arranged any fishing quota swaps with Lithuania; if his attention has been drawn to any swaps that Lithuania has arranged in order to be able to access the blue whiting fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12929/14]
View answer850. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Lithuanian vessel (details supplied) has any fishing entitlements in Irish waters; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this vessel has entered Irish waters in recent days; if he will monitor the fishing activity of this vessel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12928/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 849 and 850 together.
The TAC and Quota Regulation EU No. 43/2014 sets out the quotas for each stock available to Member States. In addition to the fishing opportunities allocated in the Regulation, Lithuania may exchange quota with another Member State under the normal arrangements for exchanging quotas. Lithuania does not have a quota for Blue Whiting in the Western waters, however EU records show that they have received 5,000 tonnes from the Netherlands in 2014 as a result of an exchange. Lithuania has a quota of 120 tonnes of Mackerel in Western Waters. I do not have information on how Lithuania internally allocate these quotas to its fleet and such information is not made available to Member States.
All fishing vessels must also comply with all EU Regulations relating to the Common Fisheries policy, including reporting of catches and respecting technical measures such as mesh size. Control of the fishing within Ireland’s Exclusive Fishery Zone is a matter for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, operational issues concerning sea fisheries control are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. It is the responsibility of the Control Authorities to monitor and control the activities of fishing vessels which are operating within the Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone.
