asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will state in respect of the past five years for the areas of Wexford, Kinsale, Courtmacsherry, Clonakilty, Union Hall, Castletownshend, Baltimore, Schull and Bantry, the landing figures and values of each of the following species of shellfish: mussels, oysters, crabs, lobsters, crawfish, periwinkles and clams; what steps are being taken to increase the productivity of such shellfish areas; and if there is any evidence of pollution in such areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shellfish Landings.
The reply to the first part of the question is in the form of a tabular statement which I propose, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, to circulate in the Official Report.
As to the second part of the question, the position is that the scientific staff of the Fisheries Division of my Department is continuously engaged in research programmes designed to assist in the development and expansion of our sea fisheries. Because of its economic and social importance, particular emphasis is placed on research work relating to shellfisheries where such exist or show any potential along any part of the coastline. The areas mentioned by the Deputy are, of course, included in this work and the results of the research and investigations are published by my Department in its Annual Report on Sea and Inland Fisheries, in the Sea Fisheries Bulletins, in the Irish Fisheries Investigations Series B (Marine) and in numerous Fishery Leaflets which are widely circulated amongst fishermen and fishermen's organisations.
As regards the third part of the question, my function in regard to the problem of water pollution relates only to the prohibition contained in the Fisheries Acts, 1959 and 1962, on the discharge into any waters of deleterious matter liable to render the water poisonous or injurious to fish, to spawning grounds or to the food of fish. Pollution of this kind has been detected from time to time in some estuaries of rivers along the south-east and south coasts and arrangements were initiated to rectify the position but no evidence was found of pollution in the open sea.
Following is the tabular statement referred to:—
LANDINGS OF SHELLFISH
1966 |
1967 |
1968 |
1969 |
1970 |
||||||
Quantity |
Value |
Quantity |
Value |
Quantity |
Value |
Quantity |
Value |
Quantity |
Value |
|
Wexford: |
Cwt |
£ |
Cwt. |
£ |
Cwt. |
£ |
Cwt. |
£ |
Cwt. |
£ |
Mussels |
2,000 |
1,500 |
3,520 |
2,640 |
6,016 |
4,512 |
14,388 |
10,791 |
27,272 |
20,476 |
Kinsale: |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
|||||
Crawfish |
766 |
618 |
144 |
96 |
231 |
260 |
40 |
120 |
1,160 |
1,399 |
Lobsters |
11,786 |
5,470 |
1,200 |
500 |
2,105 |
1,216 |
4,421 |
2,922 |
4,740 |
3,283 |
Cwt. |
||||||||||
Periwinkles |
— |
— |
— |
— |
10 |
20 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Courtmacsherry |
Returns included in Kinsale figures. |
|||||||||
Clonakilty: |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
|||||
Crawfish |
865 |
778 |
900 |
505 |
25 |
28 |
500 |
625 |
600 |
750 |
Lobsters |
4,695 |
2,347 |
11,392 |
2,970 |
1,318 |
824 |
3,080 |
1,848 |
1,800 |
1,050 |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
|||||||||
Periwinkles |
— |
— |
1,411 |
2,093 |
400 |
798 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Union Hall: |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
|||||
Crawfish |
2,261 |
1,863 |
1,591 |
1,183 |
1,350 |
1,591 |
974 |
1,109 |
813 |
1,008 |
Lobsters |
7,233 |
3,576 |
4,905 |
2,196 |
4,846 |
3,512 |
5,814 |
3,726 |
4,302 |
2,932 |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
||||||||
Periwinkles |
— |
— |
— |
— |
15 |
35 |
58 |
126 |
20 |
60 |
Other Shellfish |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
201 |
769 |
5 |
68 |
Castletownshend: |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
|||||||
Crawfish |
468 |
362 |
116 |
80 |
98 |
66 |
Returns included in Union Hall figures for 1969 and 1970. |
|||
Lobsters |
2,454 |
1,329 |
804 |
447 |
84 |
51 |
||||
Baltimore: |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
|||||
Crawfish |
191 |
159 |
1,021 |
808 |
1,759 |
1,979 |
1,811 |
2,132 |
2,262 |
2,840 |
Crabs |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2,091 |
59 |
1,157 |
33 |
— |
— |
Lobsters |
19,677 |
9,183 |
18,838 |
7,162 |
10,458 |
6,547 |
13,420 |
9,038 |
7,025 |
4,965 |
Cwt. |
||||||||||
Periwinkles |
— |
— |
— |
— |
144 |
288 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Other Shellfish |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
8 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Schull: |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
|||||
Crawfish |
1,359 |
1,043 |
2,282 |
1,431 |
1,533 |
1,597 |
1,039 |
1,240 |
1,134 |
1,390 |
Crabs |
10,152 |
296 |
16,488 |
495 |
199,805 |
5,296 |
567,800 |
18,132 |
507,180 |
11,913 |
Lobsters |
8,401 |
4,143 |
6,054 |
2,611 |
4,004 |
2,106 |
4,104 |
2,628 |
3,965 |
2,786 |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
||||||
Periwinkles |
88 |
176 |
10 |
18 |
10 |
20 |
109 |
261 |
49 |
147 |
Other Shellfish |
1 |
15 |
19 |
527 |
3 |
99 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Bantry: |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
Numbers |
|||||
Crawfish |
— |
— |
— |
— |
329 |
344 |
57 |
64 |
696 |
955 |
Crabs |
— |
— |
— |
— |
87 |
3 |
96 |
3 |
— |
— |
Lobsters |
291 |
254 |
730 |
230 |
639 |
399 |
735 |
473 |
1,392 |
1,051 |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
Cwt. |
||||||
Periwinkles |
— |
— |
269 |
401 |
676 |
1,354 |
389 |
841 |
236 |
795 |
Other Shellfish |
15 |
182 |
80 |
920 |
19 |
207 |
656 |
4,741 |
1,454 |
2,604 |
NOTE: Where any species of fish mentioned in the question is not shown under an individual port, no landings of the species were recorded at that port. Landings of clams are not recorded separately for any port but are included under the heading "Other Shellfish".
I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he has received a report from the Departmental officials on the survey of these areas? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the big potential of the shellfish industry, especially if we enter the Common Market? What is he doing to develop the shellfish industry in this area?
There have been substantial developments with regard to the shellfish industry in recent years. We are continuing to try to bring about improvements in the production in various spheres and we have been successful in this work. We are continuing to try to bring about improvements in production in various ways and I think we are succeeding.
The reason I put down Wexford in this question was to make the Parliamentary Secretary aware that much has been done at Wexford, and as a result there has been a big increase in the fishing there, but nothing has been done along the coast from Kinsale to Castletownbere where there is a huge potential. Surely it is time to have something done there?
I would not agree that nothing is being done in that area or along that coastline.
I can assure the Parliamentary Secretary nothing has been done.
Do I understand from the Parliamentary Secretary that there is no pollution in the open sea? Is Dublin Bay not open sea?
As I said in my reply we have no evidence of pollution in the open sea.