I have only in recent days become aware of issues in regard to pelagic draft net artisanal fishing in Inver Bay, County Donegal following a letter and supporting documentation submitted by a fisherman late last week. I am very supportive, in principle, of providing for the reintroduction of traditional fishing methods around the coast, subject to ensuring that such methods are in compliance with EU regulations and do not adversely impact on other fish stocks, particularly wild salmon.
I will seek the advice of the Marine Institute on the possible unintended impacts of this method of fishing. In that regard, I will seek the views of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, who has responsibility for salmon conservation, on the issues involved. I am advised that there appears to be no barrier to fishing for mackerel, herring and sprat using pelagic draft ring net artisanal fishing methods, subject to using the legal and mesh size and having applied for and received an authorisation in respect of herring.
The waters off the north-west coast are the subject of an EU cod recovery plan and additional EU technical conservation measures to protect cod, haddock and whiting. These regulations restrict the fishing gear and mesh size that may be used in the north west. These EU regulations do not apply to pelagic fishing where standard pelagic trawls are used with a mesh size of 55 mm or less.
I am aware that sprat are targeted in the bays of the north west by small trawlers using mid water pelagic nets. These boats also fish sprat further offshore in the area between St. John's Point, Bundoran and Doorin. The occurrence of sprat shoals is dependent on many things. The population is subject to wild fluctuations and a strong year class may occur every fourth year or so. Its survival may depend on many physical environmental features and the number of predators. In this case, it will be necessary to establish that the mesh size is in conformity with the provisions of the EU transitional conservation measures for the north west.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
My Department advertised in the Irish Independent in November 2010 for applicants for herring authorisations in the north west for 2011. If a fisherman did not make an application at that time, he or she would not have been issued with a herring authorisation. Other than the requirement for an authorisation — assuming that the fisherman is using a mesh size permitted under the EU transitional conservation measures for the north west — there is no preclusion in place to fishing for herring using a draft ring net.
I am currently reviewing the management arrangements for Irish herring fisheries. In June my Department asked the industry for its views and I am currently considering its responses in the context of the information on participation in the various fisheries being prepared by my Department. During the period of consultation which took place, artisanal fishermen from Inver Bay, County Donegal did not communicate to my Department the issues in respect of their specific fishery. Having recently received such a submission, I am happy to give it due consideration. However, there is nothing currently in place to prevent such fishermen catching herring once they have applied for and received a specific authorisation and subject to the mesh size being in compliance with EU regulation.
In Autumn 2010 my Department engaged in a comprehensive consultation process regarding the mackerel fisheries, including advertising in national newspapers. The arrangements put in place to support fishing for mackerel by boats under 18 m — as set out in section 6 of "Determination (No. 17) of the Need for an Authorisation for Certain Fish Stocks" — permit the catching of mackerel based on a monthly limit set following consultation with industry representatives. As for the other pelagic fisheries, the mesh size to be used for mackerel must be in conformity with EU regulation. I assure the Deputy of my commitment to have the technical issues relating to this gear type examined and to advise the applicant in respect of the fisheries in which he has expressed an interest.