Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2004
43 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when and the way in which he plans to introduce an independent on-board monitoring system to gauge the level of cetacean bycatch on Irish fishing vessels. [25759/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe framework for the implementation of on-board observer schemes for cetacean bycatch is laid out in the cetacean bycatch Regulation No. 812 of 2004, agreed at the March 2004 Fisheries Council. The processing of this issue was a priority during the Irish Presidency. Article 5 of the regulation specifies the level of experience and skills required of observers, their main duties and the manner in which their reports are to be compiled and submitted. The regulation also lists the areas and fishing gears for which monitoring is to be carried out, with the dates for implementation. In the case of Irish waters, two of the areas listed require observer coverage from the period beginning 1 January 2005. These are pelagic trawls — single and pair — for all Irish waters, and bottom-set gillnet or entangling nets using mesh sizes equal to or greater than 80 mm for waters to the north and west of Ireland and also the Irish Sea.
As there is not sufficient existing data available to design sampling strategies to achieve the statistical precision required for a general observer scheme, it will be necessary to design and implement a pilot observer scheme in the first instance, as laid down in annex III of the regulation, for 2005 and 2006. There has been an increasing level of observer coverage in recent years in certain areas such as the tuna fishery, and this information is of use in the design of the pilot schemes. Discussions have commenced between the Department and Bord Iascaigh Mhara on the precise methodology to be deployed, and this process will continue during the remainder of the year. The coverage of these schemes will, as required, be based on the level of fishing effort in the relevant fisheries in recent years, and will build on the experience gained from previous observer coverage.
