Trevor Sargent
Ceist:444 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine whether he intends introducing legislation to make possession of an egg-bearing female lobster illegal. [14413/96]
Written Answers. - Lobster Conservation Measures.
There are a range of conservation measures in place to preserve and enhance lobster stocks around the coast. Under the conservation programme, which has been introduced and is operated in close consultation with the lobster fishing industry, the retention of female lobsters "V notched" for breeding and conservation purposes is illegal. The V notching programme has proved very successful and is paying demonstrable dividends in terms of enhancing the very valuable lobster resource. The effectiveness of the current conservation regimes is being kept under close review by the Department, BIM and the industry and further measures are being discussed and will be agreed and introduced as necessary.