Vol. 518 No. 6
142 Ms Coughlan asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources whether Spanish, German and Danish fishermen will fish their quota of blue whiting in 2000; if not, if he will request the European Commission to re-allocate the quota to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12608/00]
Quota transfers of any species, including blue whiting, between member states are dealt with through bilateral quota swaps between the member states concerned. Under Article 9 of Council Regulation 3760/92, member states may, after notifying the Commission, exchange all or part of their fish quotas with other member states.
My Department regularly swaps amounts of quota with other member states for key quota species in short supply for the Irish industry. The industry is kept advised of on-going quota swaps which are negotiated to ensure best commercial advantage for the Irish industry. In this context, my Department keeps under review the scope for blue whiting quota swaps with other member states. To date, opportunities for exchanging other quota species for blue whiting have not transpired.
