Vol. 495 No. 7
159 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will intervene between a person (details supplied) in County Mayo and the large trawler owners regarding the compensation available in view of the fact that he has lost a total of 102 lobster pots due to damage by trawlers entering Porturlin Bay. [21556/98]
160 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the steps, if any, his Department will take to prevent large trawlers coming within the twelve mile limit in Porturlin Bay, Ballina, County Mayo. [21557/98]
161 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of times trawlers have illegally entered the 12 mile limit in Porturlin Bay, Ballina, County Mayo, in 1997 and to date in 1998 as reported to his Department by local fishermen; and the action, if any, taken by his Department to prevent the problem arising again. [21558/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 160 and 161 together.
As I indicated in reply to the Deputy's Questions Nos. 180 and 181 of 30 September 1998, it has not been possible to date, in the absence of any verifiable identification of the vessels involved, to resolve the compensation claim made by the person referred to by the Deputy. The compensation system for damage to local fishing gear from trawling activities will, however, be on the agenda at the meetings of inshore fishing and trawling groups which my Department, in association with Bord Iascaigh Mhara, will convene shortly.
Certain categories of larger fishing vessels are precluded by the terms and conditions of their sea-fishing boat licences from fishing within 12 miles of the base lines. For example, this restriction applies to some Refrigerated Sea Water, RSW, boats except during the horse mackerel fishery.
My Department has, through claims made by inshore fishermen for compensation for damage or loss of lobster pots and other static fishing gear, received a number of allegations of large vessels fishing illegally within 12 miles of the baselines. It would be a matter of serious concern if a vessel was fishing in breach of the terms of its sea-fishing boat licence and I have, therefore, directed my Department to investigate the position.
