Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2018
492. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulations in place for fishermen trawling and-or dredging for mussel seeds on the foreshore, off the coast and in areas of special conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43236/18]
View answerWhile all Irish sea-fishing activities operate in the context of the Common Fisheries Policy and its regulations, the fishing of seed mussel by Irish sea-fishing boats is controlled primarily by the following national legislation:
- Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No 8 of 2006): Section 13 of this Act provides the Minister with powers to grant authorisations to the owners of fishing boats to fish for fish stocks and to determine for which fish stocks an authorisation is required.
- Determination (No.28) of the Need for an Authorisation for Certain Fish Stocks: This Determination restricts access to certain fish stocks, including mussel seed, to those fishing boats that hold an authorisation for that stock.
- S.I. No. 311 of 2006 – Mussel Seed (Fishing) Regulations 2006: These Regulations set out the conditions that must be complied with by any boat operating in the mussel seed fishery.
- S.I. No. 261 of 2008 – European Communities (Health of Aquaculture Animals and Products) Regulations 2008: These Regulations give effect to Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals.
- S.I. No. 290 of 2013 – European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Sea-fisheries) Regulations 2013: These Regulations provide for Fisheries Natura Plans for wild fisheries that may impact on Natura 2000 sites, the appropriate assessment of those plans, a process of public and statutory consultation and for the Minister to accept, reject or amend such plans. It provides powers for the Minister to control fishing via a permit system and Fisheries Natura Declarations and further provides for offences and penalties.
- Fisheries Natura Declaration No. 2 of 2018 (Mussel Fishing): This Declaration makes conditional and prohibits fishing for mussels in a number of Natura 2000 sites around the Irish coast.
- Fisheries Natura Declaration No. 1 of 2017 (Castlemaine Harbour): This Declaration sets restrictions on the fishing of mussel seed in Castlemaine Harbour.
- SI 369 of 2018 – Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Mussel Seed) (Opening of Fisheries) Regulations 2018: Statutory instruments are used to allow or prohibit fishing for mussel seed. SI 369 of 2018 allows fishing for mussel seed to take place in the exclusive fishery limits of the State from 17 September up to 21 December 2018 inclusive.
Further information concerning sea-fisheries interactions with Special Areas of Conservation and other Natura 2000 sites can be found online at www.fishingnet.ie.
