Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
985. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the latest work of the Brown Crab Working Group that he established in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14537/24]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that preparations are ongoing in respect of the establishment of the Brown Crab Working Group. The Group’s work shall be facilitated by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Ireland's seafood development agency, and it will seek to identify measures that could be introduced to support the sustainability of brown crab stocks. I expect that recommendations will be made to me in due course on proposed management measures in respect of the Irish brown crab fishery.
I can assure the Deputy that I am cognisant of the status of brown crab stocks around our coastline and their recent decline. I am also advised that this issue is not confined to the Irish brown crab fishery, as other countries are also reporting decreased crab stock levels.
There are a number of management measures in place for brown crab. The landing size is a national measure where a minimum conservation reference of 140mm applies to brown crab taken by Irish sea-fishing boats in ICES Areas VI and VII, as set out in S.I. No. 26 of 2019 - Brown Crab (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2019. While not limited by quota arrangements, EU legislation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1241) restricts the volume of brown crab claws that can be landed for conservation reasons. Crab is also subject to fishing effort limits (days at sea) set at EU level (Council Regulation (EC) No. 1415/2004) for Member States, including Ireland, with sea-fishing boats that catch brown crab, spider crab, scallops and demersal fish stocks in waters around Ireland (ICES areas V, VI and VII).
