Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 8

Written Answers. - Waterford Harbour Fishing.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

53 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine if trawlers and boats with a power of 100 horsepower or more will be prevented from fishing within Waterford Harbour from Hook Head to Dunmore East; and, if so, will the prohibition be based on horsepower rather than weight which is currently the case.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. G. O'Sullivan)

I would refer the Deputy to my answer to his question of 24 February 1993 when I confirmed that powerful trawlers are not permitted to fish in the areas referred to by the Deputy. To be specific, the use of trawl nets by vessels exceeding 10 GRT is prohibited by a by-law in that part of Waterford Harbour lying north of a line drawn from Gaultier Cottage, in Waterford to Broomhill Point in Wexford. Gaultier Cottage is an old landmark not used in modern maps but the effect of the by-law is to prohibit vessels of the horsepower mentioned by the Deputy from trawling in the inner reaches of the harbour. I can see no reason to change the parameters used from tonnage to horsepower.

A further consideration is the development of mussel fisheries within the sheltered areas of Waterford Harbour. The commercial expansion of this fishery may require the presence of vessels larger than those envisaged by the Deputy. In addition there are also high hopes for the development of a cockle fishery within that area. In the main larger fishing vessels concentrate on grounds further out to sea with the possible exception of some herring fishing which takes place from time to time off the western tip of Hook Head. You will appreciate, therefore, that it would not be practical to entirely prohibit larger vessels from fishing the outer reaches of Waterford Harbour.

I would also refer the Deputy to EC Regulations forbidding large beam trawlers over 221KW engine power or 24 metres in length from fishing within 12 miles of the territorial baselines of the Irish coast, thus affording a certain measure of protection to smaller vessels.

In addition under the terms of sea fishing boat licences issued by my Department, all vessels over 120' are precluded from fishing within a 12 miles limit from territorial baselines and all those over 90' from fishing inside the three mile limit.