Trevor Sargent
Ceist:287 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will ensure that trawlers in the Irish Box neither carry nor use nets below mesh size 120 millimetres. [22579/02]
Written Answers. - Fisheries Protection.
Spanish trawlers are regularly inspected both at sea and on landing into Irish ports, as are all fishing vessels operating within the Irish fisheries patrol area. The Irish fisheries patrol area includes the Irish Box. European fishing regulations are clear with regard to the requirement for all fishing vessels to stow securely those nets they are not legally entitled to use while fishing within special regulatory areas. These frequent checks at sea include the inspection of the fishing gear used by vessels using the methods and criteria prescribed under EU fisheries legislation. These fishing gear inspections are intended to ensure compliance with all European regulations regarding minimum mesh size criteria. The catches aboard are also inspected for compliance with EU fisheries legislation governing the requirements of minimum sizes of fish and the recording of catches retained onboard.
My Department's land based inspectorate carries out regular inspections of Spanish registered vessels. Non-Irish fishing vessels are required to give prior notification of landing which includes information on all the catches retained aboard the vessel. Routine inspections are also carried out of the fishing gear to ensure compliance with European regulations governing fishing gear and of the minimum sizes of fish permitted to be landed by these vessels when these fishing vessels use Irish ports.