Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
322. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the ban on craynet fishing and landing of crayfish off the county Kerry and Cork coasts from Loop Head to Mizen Head (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4684/21]
View answer323. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a series of issues in relation to the fishing and landing of crayfish (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4687/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that there are longstanding restrictions in place on the use of tangle nets to target crayfish off Kerry and off Galway. These measures are set out in SI 233 of 2006.
I understand that the Marine Institute published a Prior Information Notice ahead of its intention to tender for fishing vessels to provide scientific support services concerning a project to explore the potential to develop a sustainable fishery for crayfish. I am advised that this recent notice sought to explore the interest of fishers in further developing a previous project which had been funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Marine Biodiversity Scheme and in which several fishers had participated. The Deputy may wish to be aware that the information on the previous project is publicly available at: https://emff.marine.ie/marine-biodiversity/management-and-restoration-crayfish-stocks .
The Marine Institute does not have the vires to introduce sea-fisheries conservation measures - that power is vested in my role as Minister under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. Any proposals to develop conservation measures generally undergo prior consultation. I do not have proposals on hand to introduce measures regarding the use of nets to target crayfish; however I am aware that crayfish stocks are at a historical low and that there have been longstanding concerns about the environmental impacts of tangle nets in particular. In that regard, I would welcome proposals to put the fishery on a long term sustainable footing.
