The Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) (North Irish Sea) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 207 of 2015) came into force on 1 June 2015. The regulations have been made under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 and have been laid before each House of the Oireachtas in accordance with section 3 of that Act. The regulations apply to the razor clam fishery in the north Irish Sea and implement a weekly catch limit for vessels and limiting fishing to certain days of the week. In addition, the Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2015 (S.I. No. 206 of 2015) also introduce monitoring and reporting measures for razor clam fishing around the coast to ensure traceability of catch and to provide appropriate information on the patterns of exploitation of these fisheries.
The regulations were developed from a request to introduce management measures from the North Irish Sea Razor Fishermen’s Association which I published for public consultation in November 2014 to give all potentially affected stakeholders an opportunity to comment. Following analysis of the 39 submissions received, in February 2015 a briefing session was facilitated between the North East and South East Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums, officials from my Department, the Marine Institute, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and representatives from the aforementioned Association and other razor clam fishermen to review the comments and discuss future steps. The measures were also discussed with the National Inshore Fisheries Forum meetings in April and May. I am satisfied that these regulations have undergone a comprehensive consultation process.
