asked the Minister for Fisheries the details of the arrangements made with the Manx Government in respect of licences for Irish trawlers for herring fishing in (a) Manx territorial waters and (b) Irish territorial waters.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Herring Fishing.
23.
The Isle of Man authorities on 15th August, 1977, introduced as a conservation measure a licensing system for vessels fishing for herring within their 12-mile zone for the remainder of 1977. Following official discussions between the Isle of Man, the United Kingdom and this country the total number of licences to be issued was fixed at 124 of which 24 were set aside for Irish vessels wishing to fish in Manx waters. These numbers were considered to be sufficient to enable the EEC quotas for the entire Irish Sea area to be taken in full. Accordingly it was agreed between the United Kingdom authorities and my Department that fishing for herring in all parts of the Irish Sea would be confined to vessels so licensed. The Isle of Man licensing scheme, which did not apply outside Manx waters, was, in the context of this arrangement, used merely as a mechanism for controlling fishing effort for herring in the Irish Sea as a whole so as to ensure that the EEC quotas were not exceeded.
On what basis did the Minister agree to the Manx Government issuing licences to Irish fishermen operating boats outside the Manx 12-mile limit and west of the median line?
We furnished the licences but they issued them and that was merely a matter of convenience and no more than that. We had full consultations about the matter before hand but, eventually, there was disagreement between the fishermen and we adopted the sensible course of letting them fish out their quota. The quota was reached on 7th October and the matter is now at an end, peacefully and happily.
Would the Minister tell the House the legislative authority under which he made the arrangements with the Manx Government whereby effectively the Manx Government were going to control which Irish boats fished the Irish Sea? Will the Minister indicate to the House why it was that the quota for Irish fishermen fishing for herring in the Irish Sea was reduced by 1,700 tons from 2,700 tons on foot of this agreement while the quota for the British fishermen operating in the Irish Sea was increased by a similar amount? Will the Minister explain why, following his intervention. Irish boats were unable to land at the Isle of Man with a consequent loss of approximately £90 per cran of herring over the summer period?
It is very difficult to catch up on a succession of misstatements and errors. Firstly, the Irish share of the total allowable catch was 800 tons and I had that increased by another 200 tons at an EEC meeting. The Deputy is misinformed in that regard.
Why was it reduced from 2,700 tons?
Deputy Boland asked a pertinent question and I want to answer it. In regard to the question of the Manx Government issuing licences, this was merely a mechanical matter because the licences were decided in consultation between Irish fishermen and my Department. That was agreed upon. For convenience purposes the Manx administration was used for the purpose of issuing licences in the Manx area and no more than that. Subsequently, the fishermen could not agree on those who should secure the licences and they approached me about the matter. I told them that if they could not agree the licensing arrangement was off and they could fish away until the quota had been absorbed. They have done that peacefully, the quota was absorbed on 7th October and the matter is at an end.
They were not allowed land at the Isle of Man.
The Deputy is misinformed again.
Is the Minister aware that on foot of this agreement an Irish boat was boarded by the crew of a British naval protection vessel and the crew warned that if they were found again in British waters they would be subjected to heavy fines? The fishermen on the east coast were warned by officials of the Minister's Department that they should not enter Isle of Man waters because of the heavy penalties they might incur. Is the Minister further aware that there are on record in his Department details of a quota of 2,700 tons allocated for herring fishing——
That is not true. The Deputy is under a misapprehension. I will take over the files to the Deputy and explain the matter fully to him.
Why were Irish boats not allowed land at British ports or the Isle of Man?
That is not true either. The matter has been settled amicably. The fishermen are delighted about the whole matter.
At the loss of two-thirds of the value of the herring?
If the Minister comes down to Skerries he will see how delighted the fishermen are.
I was down there the other night and they are delighted with me.