Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 September 2023
456. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish a full list of fishing vessels in the State, by registered owner, name of vessel and port location, licensed to fish razor clams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41515/23]
View answer457. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the current regulations for the fishing of razor clams in Ireland are sustainable; if he has given any consideration to capping the number of boats/registered vessels allowable to fish the species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41516/23]
View answer458. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of a proposed 700-tonne limit for the fishing of razor clams in Ireland that is intended to be introduced from 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41517/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 457 to 458, inclusive, together.
Ireland’s goals for sustainable fisheries, including inshore stocks such as razor clam, are supported through the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The CFP provides the framework for the long-term conservation and sustainability of fish stocks around our shores and is designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of fishing in Ireland and throughout EU waters. The Programme for Government – Our Shared Future reflects this approach by committing to protect marine biodiversity and to secure a sustainable future for the fisheries sector while supporting coastal communities.
There are a number of regulations in place to support the sustainable fishing of razor clam, including:
• Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) (North Irish Sea) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 160 of 2018) – These Regulations increase the Minimum Conservation Reference Size for razor clam taken by Irish sea-fishing boats in the north Irish Sea to 125 mm.
• Razor Clams (Conservation of Stocks) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 588 of 2015) – These Regulations reduced the weekly landing limit on razor clams for vessels in the north Irish Sea fishery to 600 kilograms from 1 January 2016.
• Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) (North Irish Sea) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 207 of 2015) – These Regulations limit razor clam fishing in the north Irish Sea to certain days of the week.
• Razor Clam (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 206 of 2015) – These Regulations regulate the razor clam fishery within the internal waters or territorial seas by implementing a number of restrictions and conditions for the fishery, including weighing of landings, reporting of catch and Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring of vessels.
These regulations were developed in consultation with inshore fishers, and other stakeholders, through the National and Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums. Since their inception, the Inshore Forums have been at the forefront in developing initiatives to protect the future of the inshore sector.
Sea-fishing boats registered in the polyvalent and specific segments are generally eligible to fish for razor clams. The Register of Sea Fishing Boats is publicly available online at: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/5907a-sea-fisheries-administration/. There is currently no consideration being given to introducing a limit on the number of vessels that can fish for razor clam.
Scientific assessments of razor clam are carried out by the Marine Institute. The Marine Institute is the statutory body whose function is inter alia to undertake sea-fisheries research, assess and advise on the sustainable exploitation of the marine fisheries resources in the waters around Ireland and on the impacts of fisheries on the ecosystem.
The Marine Institute has recommended in recent years that total allowable catches (TACs) be introduced to manage outtake from razor clam fisheries in the Irish Sea, with the TACs to be based on defined harvest rates and annual estimates of the biomass of stocks from research surveys. The Inshore Forums have been consulted on these recommendations. I am advised that the Marine Institute carried out razor clam surveys in the north and south Irish Sea earlier this year. My Department expects to receive the Marine Institute’s latest scientific advice for razor clam in the near future.
The Marine Institute regularly reports on trends in the razor clam fishery in the Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review, which it publishes annually with Bord Iascaigh Mhara. The Review focuses on non-quota species, such as brown crab, lobster and razor clam, as well as the activity of the shellfish fleet. It can be accessed online, along with other Marine Institute publications, at oar.marine.ie/.
I would encourage fishers to bring suggestions for the management of razor clam, as well as other inshore stocks, to the attention of their local Regional Inshore Fisheries Forum. Information regarding the Forums, including contact details, is available at the Forums' dedicated website: inshoreforums.ie/.
Question No. 457 answered with Question No. 456.
