Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2019
338. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the definition of the joint management of mussel stocks; if it is still in operation; the legislative basis for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40617/19]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to the all-island basis for management of the mussel seed fishery in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland (DAERA NI) and the cross-border Loughs Agency.
The context for this has been the longstanding voisinage arrangements which provide for reciprocal access to waters for fishing in the area from the baselines out to six nautical miles around the coast of the State and Northern Ireland. The EU Common Fisheries Policy regulations and the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, as amended, provide a legislative basis for management of sea-fisheries.
