Vol. 550 No. 2
85 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will reconsider his proposal regarding the registration of small fishing boats, in view of the detrimental effect this will have on the inshore fishing fleet. [7738/02]
87 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the details of the pilot scheme for the inshore fishing sector; the way in which it has been implemented; and the assessment of the results to date. [7883/02]
89 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the recent directive from his Department which will force inshore fishermen with small boats to pay a tonnage fee will drive many of these people out of fishing and will decimate small coastal communities, particularly where there are limited harbour facilities which can only cater for half deckers and punts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7914/02]
100 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his views on whether fish caught by small inshore fishing boats will seriously impact on fishing stocks; the reason behind his Department's decision to have these boats levied for tonnage payments where in many cases the income derived from fishing would be less than that being requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8018/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 87, 89 and 100 together.
Inshore vessels which target selected species such as lobster have the potential to seriously impact on stocks around the coast. In this situation, I have given priority to the development of new management arrangements for Irish inshore fishing vessels operating in inshore waters to ensure that inshore stocks are managed and developed on a sustainable basis. A recent survey of the inshore sector carried out by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, BIM, found that some of the traditional inshore fleet remain outside the licensing and registration framework. I therefore introduced a new scheme which will give bona fide fishermen an opportunity to fully regularise their situation and become full participants before the introduction of the new management arrangement for inshore stocks.
86 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the regulations recently announced are applicable to fishermen who fish for their own use or for salting their own fish; the way in which this situation affects fishermen with commercial licences and with tonnage; if such fishermen have to keep a total log book or a shore picker's book; if these rules are to be policed by the fishery officers or their respective areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7881/02]
I assume that the Deputy is referring to the scheme for the licensing of inshore fishing vessels which I recently announced. The overall position is that fishermen who are not engaged in fishing on a commercial basis are not required to have a sea fishing boat licence or keep a log book or, in the case of fish caught on shore, a shellfish gatherer's document. Such fishermen are not, therefore, required to be licensed under the inshore scheme and hence do not have to provide replacement tonnage. My Department's sea fishery officers are engaged in the enforcement of legal requirements relating to commercial sea fishing activities.
Question No. 87 answered with Question No. 85.
