asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any information as to the likely date of the review of this country's fishing limits by the EEC which is to take place before 1982; and if a case for an extension to a 50 miles fishing limit has been prepared.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fishing Limits Review.
8.
In the context of the Law of the Sea Conference which will be resumed next month the Commission of the European Communities has initiated a review of the common fisheries policy. This covers, inter alia, the question of reserving parts of the 200-mile economic zone which the conference is expected to approve for local fishermen. On 6th January the Commission submitted to the Council a working document on the changes required in the common fisheries policy as a result of the introduction of 200-mile zones. This document was intended as a basis for discussion by the member states of the problems posed by a new régime and to enable the Commission to ascertain their attitudes with a view to preparing definitive proposals.
The document has been considered in the Committee of Permanent Representatives and in the Council of Ministers on 9th February. The Commission, in the light of views expressed by member states, will shortly be putting forward formal proposals for consideration by the Council. In the discussions, we made a case for the establishment of a substantial exclusive band reserved for Irish boats within the 200-mile zone together with a preferential quota in the remainder of the zone.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state when this review is likely to take place? Does he think the case being made is sufficiently strong to enable us to extend our fishing limits? He must be aware that the fishing industry is in dire straits at present; he must know that only 3½ per cent of all the fish caught off the south-east coast is taken by Irish boats and that the figure for the entire coastline is 9 per cent. If we are not able to extend our fishing limits, I am afraid the Irish fishing fleet will not be able to survive against the competition from the bigger and better equipped boats of the other member states.
The review has already begun. I want to make it clear to the House that the reason the review is being brought forward so far is because the Law of the Sea Conference, which is virtually a universal conference, is expected to agree on a 200-mile economic zone for all countries and to draw up a convention that will be signed by all of those who have attended the Law of the Sea Conference. That will mean a reduction in the fishing waters available to the Community as a community. It is only right to warn the Deputy and the House that although we have made the strongest case possible, and will continue to do so, for the maximum extent of fishing waters we are doing it in a situation in which all the countries of the Community are having their traditional fishing waters reduced. This is because the fleets which formally travelled a good distance from their own shores—the Dutch, German, French and British —will now be squeezed and, as a consequence of the conference, they will find themselves confined to a smaller strip of water. We will be looking for an extension of our rights at the very time when they will be looking for special treatment. The Deputy and the House can be assured that we are making the strongest case we can but it is not the most favourable moment to do it.
The richest herring grounds in Europe are off Dunmore East. This year the catches were down by 17 per cent and I should like the Parliamentary Secretary to bring to the Minister's attention the need for special consideration for this matter in any negotiations that take place. Will the fishermen's organisations be represented at the Law of the Sea Conference?
To answer the second part of the question first, the fishermen's organisations will not be presented specifically—there is no provision, as I told the House two weeks ago, in the rules of the conference for the attendance of fishermen's organisations and observers, but of course they will be very fully consulted before and during the conference. The Government are very well aware of the features of the fish resources to which the Deputy referred, and to the share taken by Irish fishermen, and one of the main planks on which we are resting our case for special treatment is that there are large areas particularly in the west in which the sea is the main natural resource, which is not the case in regard to other nationalities with whom we will be competing.