Martin Cullen
Ceist:38 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of average weekly fishery patrols carried out by the Naval Service; and the results achieved to date in 1993.
Written Answers. - Naval Fishery Patrols.
The Naval Service has seven patrol vessels all of which are currently operational. These vessels are deployed on fishery; protection duties in the most efficient manner having regard to current and predicted fishing patterns. It would be undesirable for operational reasons to disclose any information on the level of patrols carried out by the Naval Service.
In 1993 to date the Naval Service have recorded 1,028 sightings of fishing vessels, 297 of which were boarded by the Naval Service. Thirty five of the vessels boarded were subsequently detained for alleged illegal fishing.