asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the reason trawlers are being allowed to fish inside the six mile limit off the Dunmore coast area of County Waterford with resulting severe damage to the gear of the inshore fishermen of Passage East and Dunmore East.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Dunmore Coast (Waterford) Fishing .
16.
: There is no prohibition on trawling by Irish boats of under 90 feet in length in the area within six miles seaward of baselines in the area mentioned. Boats of 90 feet or over may not, however, fish within three miles from baselines. It is considered that a ban on trawling within six miles from baselines would not be justified.
: I referred specifically to beam trawlers. Perhaps the Minister might give me a reply on that point?
: Beam trawling for sole and plaice by boats of 70 gross registered tonnes or 300 brake horsepower inside 12 miles from baseline is banned under an EEC regulation in connection with the CFP. The question, as I understand it, relates to Irish boats only, most of which are below the limits mentioned — in fact, the bulk of them are.
: My question referred to a lower limit with regard to beam trawling. I asked this specific question because there are Irish inshore boats based in an adjoining county which are causing extreme damage to the boats in Passage East and Dunmore. Is the Minister aware that a blind eye is being turned to these boats coming in?
: May I point out that fishing licences granted to Irish boats of 90 feet and upwards prohibit them from such fishing? Also, the Naval Service have been active in that area recently and have not disclosed any illegal activities there.
: A final supplementary.
: My information is that a blind eye is being turned to these boats. They are fishing out of Kilmore Quay into the adjoining county. Would the Junior Minister be able to help, as this is in his constituency?
: I assure the Deputy and the House that a blind eye is not being turned to illegal fishing operations. I would not condone such a practice. I am also quite sure that the Naval Service would not turn a blind eye in those circumstances, have not done so, and are not doing so.
: The Minister may convince me but I would like him to be able to convice the fishermen of the south-east.