Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
10. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider a ban on fishing for sprat, which is not intended for human consumption, in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55810/23]
View answerSprat is a low value fishery that is often used to produce fish meal and sometimes for human consumption. I am advised that volumes destined for human consumption vary. Fish are a perishable food product on the one hand and harvested seasonally on the other. The destination of any fish product is highly dependent on the market situation at the time, which itself can be influenced by a variety of factors such as consumer trends, availability of other products and even geopolitical events.
This time five years ago, in December 2018, my predecessor announced a transition to a ban on vessels over 18 metres trawling in inshore waters, inside the six nautical mile zone. A significant part of the objective of this measure was to manage the fishing effort on sprat stocks which are primarily targeted within inshore waters. This measure however was the subject of extended legal proceedings following a Judicial Review taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the Policy Directive which underpinned the initiative. The outcome of these proceedings, received earlier this year, is that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 has been quashed by an Order of Certiorari made by the Court of Appeal.
Further to the final judgment of the Courts, and on the basis of legal advice received in respect of next steps, I have decided to proceed with a new public consultation in the matter of trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines.
I am conscious of the greater dependence of our inshore fleet, compared to larger vessels, on fishing resources within the six nautical mile zone. Other issues that need to be reflected on include the balancing the management of our fisheries with the needs of the marine ecosystem and particularly with the forthcoming introduction of legislation for Marine Protected Areas.
My Department has sought up-to-date scientific and economic advice from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, respectively, on trawling in the waters inside the six nautical miles. Once those reports are finalised and policy options are identified by my Department, I can proceed with a public consultation. I look forward to receiving policy options from my Department for consideration in due course.
