Following initiatives by me at the Fisheries Council meeting earlier this year the EC Commission convened a group of experts from the five member states directly concerned including Ireland and Spain to discuss unauthorised fishing activity in Community waters and ways to combat it. At this meeting a plan of action aimed at addressing the problem was agreed. Under this plan the member states concerned and the Commission agreed to co-operate at operational level in monitoring the activities of unauthorised fishing boats. I am confident that these measures represent a major step towards enabling the control authorities establish the real extent of the problem and will contribute towards finding solutions. The Spanish authorities have indicated their willingness to play a full part in this co-ordinated programme.
The Commission is monitoring the situation closely and will take whatever additional steps it considers necessary in consultation with the member states concerned to increase the effectiveness of the new co-ordinated plan of action.
At the domestic level, measures to detect illegal fishing generally have been stepped up over recent months. The coming on stream last summer of the new Casa aircraft which is wholly devoted to sea fisheries surveillance had greatly enhanced the State's overall surveillance capability. The Casa is deployed in supporting naval vessels in spotting and positioning suspect fishing vessels or fishing activity. Detentions to date this year amount to 73 vessels of which 19 have taken place since September this year.
