asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if the Government will make financial aid available for the improvement of the oyster beds in the Clarenbridge area, County Galway.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Galway Oyster Beds.
12.
I will look into this but of course at this stage I can give no assurances as to the outcome.
I should say, however, that over the last few years technical officers of my Department have devoted considerable time to devising means of improving this fishery and have made a number of recommendations to the local fishermen. I feel that an active fishermen's co-operative could make a substantial contribution to the improvement of these public oyster beds.
13.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware of the confusion being caused by the fact that there is no clearly defined demarcation between the privately-owned and free fishing oyster beds in the Clarenbridge area, County Galway; and if he will take the necessary steps to have the limits of the free fishing areas clearly defined.
The limits of the oyster bed in the Clarenbridge area which is the subject of an oyster fishing order are precisely set out in the order itself. I am aware, however, that there is some dissatisfaction on the part of fishermen, who engage in the adjoining public oyster fishery, about the local marking of these limits. While the observance of the limits is essentially one for mutual arrangement between the fishermen and the grantees of the oyster fishery order, I will see what can be done towards improving the position.