Austin Deasy
Ceist:17 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine the steps, if any, he is taking to reduce or eliminate illegal fishing by Spanish trawlers in Ireland's 200 mile exclusive fishing zone.
Written Answers. - Illegal Fishing by Spanish Trawlers.
The control and monitoring of illegal fishing by all vessels, including Spanish vessels, is a matter of paramount importance to my Department.
From my visits to fishing ports around the country I am very much aware of the grave concerns of Irish fishermen with regard to illegal fishing off our coast. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to resolving this problem and that I will continue to explore all possible means of achieving that objective.
In an effort to address the problem, the upgrading of Ireland's surveillance operation is being assisted financially by the Community through a comprehensive surveillance programme envisaging expenditure of some £34 million covering the years 1991 to 1995. Already one CASA aircraft, improved communication and data handling equipment and onshore transport and surveillance systems have been acquired. The coming on stream last year of the new Casa aircraft, which is wholly devoted to fisheries surveillance, has greatly enhanced the State's overall surveillance capabilities. The Casa is deployed in supporting naval vessels in spotting and positioning suspect fishing vessels or fishing activity. I have no doubt, therefore, that the effectiveness of our fisheries protection effort at sea will be further enhanced as more new equipment and technology being acquired by the Naval Service comes on stream.
I have no doubt that the most effective means of combating illegal fishing is through strict enforcement of Community fisheries law at sea. In this regard I wish to acknowledge the valuable work of the Irish Naval service in protecting fish stocks off our coast. Last year a total of 85 boats was detained by the Navy for suspected fisheries infringements. This year to date the number of boats detained stands at 72.
In the context of the current review of the Common Fisheries Policy, I have, as part of the overall strategy to improve our surveillance effort, sought an increased contribution to the costs of our fishery control programmes. I am particularly concerned that a greater proportion of the overall financial burden of our surveillance effort should be borne by the Community on whose behalf we effectively monitor a massive area of water off our coast. I will be renewing my efforts in this regard at Council to ensure that Ireland's surveillance burden is recognised in practical terms by the Community.
It is also very important to acknowledge the progress made in recent times to co-ordining at Community level the fight against illegal fishing. Following an initiative by Ireland at the Council of Fisheries Ministers, a co-ordinated plan of action against illegal fishing activity in Community waters has been agreed. Under the plan the member states concerned and the Commission agreed to cooperate 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 in member states to establish the real extent of the problem of illegal fishing and will contribute towards finding solutions.
I am particularly pleased that, arising from this increased level of co-operation between the control authorities of member states, a meeting between the heads of control, on problems relating to surveillance, including the monitoring of fishing vessels, was held in Aberdeen within the last few weeks. This was the first such meeting and represents a major advance in creating closer liaison and co-operation between member states in dealing with the Community wide problem of unauthorised fishing.
In addition, I think it important to point out that arising from the current review of the Common Fisheries Policy, new proposals in relation to the Community wide control of fisheries have recently been tabled by the Commission. Over the coming weeks these proposals will be examined and refined at expert working group level and I am hopeful that before the end of the year, the Council will be in a position to adopt new measures that will re-inforce our efforts at national level against the activities of illegal operators.
The developments both at national and Community level, that I have outlined, underline the current acceptance within the Community as a whole of the need to address in a meaningful way the threat posed by illegal fishing operations. I am confident that progress is being achieved and that this will make a positive contribution towards the renewal of stocks that have been particularly affected by illegal fishing operators.