Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
293. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish the volume of fish discards, by species in each of the years 2015 to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26883/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Landing Obligation, or Discards Ban, was introduced on a phased basis beginning in 2015 and has been fully implemented since 2019. It is illegal to discard any species covered by the Landing Obligation, other than permitted exemptions. These exemptions are fish species covered by a high survivability exemption, a de minimis exemption, fish which has been damaged by predators, prohibited species and species not managed under the TAC & Quota system.
The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is responsible for the collection of catch and landings data and therefore I have referred the Deputy's request to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
