Donal Carey
Ceist:58 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Marine the estimated quantities and values of the various species of fish taken by foreign trawlers from Irish seas for each of the past three years.
Written Answers. - Sea Fishery Statistics.
Mary Flaherty
Ceist:63 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for the Marine the estimated quantities and values of the various species of fish taken by foreign trawlers from Irish seas for each of the past three years.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:72 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine the estimated quantities and values of the various species of fish taken by foreign trawlers from Irish seas for each of the past three years.
Seán Barrett
Ceist:100 Mr. Barrett asked the Minister for the Marine the estimated quantities and values of the various species of fish taken from the Irish seas by member states of the European Union of each of the last five years.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 63, 72 and 100 together.
Ireland in common with other member states of the European Union, compiles sea fishery statistics in respect of Irish fishing vessels and landings by vessels of other countries into Irish ports on the basis of statistical areas defined by the International Council for the exploration of the Sea (ICES), which co-ordinates maritime research in the North-Eastern Atlantic.
These statistics are used for scientific analysis, stock assessment, setting quotas and managing fisheries. The ICES areas, however, do not correspond to national waters but instead are designed to reflect the distribution of fisheries resources. Indeed national waters are not used by either Ireland or the European Commission as a basis for the compilation of fisheries statistics.
I would be glad to make the services of the Department of the Marine available to the Deputies to explain the complex range of statistics compiled and provide any more detailed analysis required.