Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 February 2021
246. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements that have been agreed with the UK Government to allow Irish fishers to fish inside the 12 nautical mile limit in Northern Ireland; if any Irish vessels have been registered to date; the number that have sought to be registered; when these arrangements will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6116/21]
View answerIn respect of the Northern Ireland (NI) 0-6 nautical mile zone, my Department has submitted three lists totalling 32 vessels to the EU Commission seeking authorisation to fish in the NI 0-6nm zone. However, none have yet been authorised to fish in the NI 0-6nm zone by the UK authorities.
The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) covers access for EU vessels to the UK 6-12 nautical mile zone and, for UK vessels, to the EU 6-12 nautical mile zone in ICES divisions 4c and 7d-g, which does not cover the waters around Northern Ireland.
By way of derogation, Article FISH.10 of the TCA allows EU vessels access to the waters around Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man where track record of fishing activity can be demonstrated on more than 10 days in any of the three 12 month periods beginning on 1st February 2017 and ending on 31st January 2020.
