Vol. 487 No. 4
125 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will give details of the scheme whereby fishing licences will be granted to small boats; the total tonnage involved; and when the licences will be granted. [4386/98]
A vessel may not engage in commercial sea fishing unless it possesses a sea fishing boat licence under the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1997 and is entered on the register of fishing vessels established pursuant to Part IV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.
There are many smaller vessels which, while part of the fishing fleet for many years, have not, for various reasons, been licensed or registered to date. Following extensive negotiations I have secured EU approval to regularise the position of those boat owners who had applied for licences under the special scheme introduced to redress the situation. The total tonnage involved is estimated to be in excess of 3,000 Gross Registered Tonnes, GRT. The processing of applications under the special scheme is under way and successful applicants will be issued with licences as quickly as possible.
