Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1235. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has plans to undertake stock assessments of non-TAC species found and fished within the six mile limit; if he will consider applying the precautionary principle to the fishing/regulation of these stocks in the absence of scientific assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57198/23]
View answerFisheries are managed through the Common Fisheries Policy within the European Union which includes a system of Total Allowable Catches (TACs). These are established by regulation each year for most stocks in the waters around Ireland. Assessments of fish stocks are conducted by the Marine Institute for those stocks not subject to EU Total Allowable Catches. Such assessments and associated advice is provided to my Department mostly for shellfish stocks including crab, lobster, crayfish, whelk, razor clams and cockle which are fished predominately within the six nautical mile zone. These assessments are published annually by the Marine Institute in the ‘Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review’ which can be accessed online at oar.marine.ie/. It must be stated that a number of these shellfish stocks, including cockle and razor clams, are managed by Total Allowable Catches on a national basis, independent of the European Union. In addition, crab and scallop which are important non-TAC stocks for the Irish fleet are also fished outside of the six nautical mile zone. These stocks are managed by fishing effort limits and minimum landing sizes. Data to support the assessment of shellfish stocks is derived from research surveys undertaken by the Marine Institute and data reported by scientific observers and skippers contracted to the Marine Institute. In addition, a sentinel fleet of approximately 70 vessels have been reporting data on inshore fisheries to the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara since 2010.
