There are two aspects, the quantity of fish, which is measured as scientifically as is possible, and overfishing When we come to the negotiations at the end of the year, we have the best possible information available. We look at where the stocks stand and difficult decisions must be made. That is based on scientific information which is improving all the time. There are many difficulties in reaching the quotas but having done so, we ask if there is a level playing field.
There is no question there has been a tightening in control and surveillance, which will be further tightened this year. It is not an easy task but we currently spend approximately £57 million on surveillance and we have EU support in doing so. We have, however, large areas to police. We are bringing in additional regulations. I had discussions with the Spanish Minister about checking landings in Spain. There is fairly rigorous checking of flag ships and other ships when they land here. We also have bilateral discussions with our friends in the UK on the same basis to make sure there is a level playing field because there were various practices where people were landing in other ports and so on.
Some very important steps have been taken. The Spanish have agreed to exchanges among our inspectors and theirs and for our inspectors to go to Spain to look at what they are doing at landings and as regards control. That is a very important step forward. I know the Deputy is very cynical about what might emerge but, nevertheless, one would like to think reasonable checking takes place at the landing stage.
The EU regulations require that all foreign registered vessels, including flag ships, give a minimum of two hours' notice of their intention to land. In our case, flag ship landings are mainly into Killybegs and Castletownbere. Over 75 per cent of all landings by flag ships are monitored and inspected by the Department's sea fishery officers on a random basis, although the fishermen will say it is fairly frequent.
The new control regulations which will come into force in July this year will require flag ships to provide a minimum of four hours' notice of landings. This has been a bone of contention previously. The Deputy might remember a television broadcast about a particular landing which gave notice after hours in the evening.