Vol. 503 No. 3
160 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the action, if any, he has taken to finalise management measures, including legal controls to regulate fishing for razor clams and to prevent excessive exploitation of stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9998/99]
It is necessary, in view of their importance for inshore fisheries in particular, to ensure the conservation and rational exploitation of bivalve molluscs, including razor clams. Accordingly, my Department announced last week that no further applications are being accepted for sea fishing boat licences for boats which intend to fish exclusively for bivalve molluscs, pending a review of the state of stocks and levels of fishing activity.
I will shortly announce further specific measures to regulate fishing for razor clams and to prevent excessive exploitation of stocks.
