Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is illegal to fish bass commercially yet EU trawlers are allowed to catch bass off our coast. It is a point of contention with commercial Irish fishermen that people from other EU countries are allowed to take bass from Irish waters but our fishing fleet is not allowed to do that.

Deputy Ó Cuív mentioned the issue of support for people going into the industry, particularly those upgrading their boats for sea-angling trips and so on. Does BIM support that activity?

Do local authorities in counties that have a large coastline make any input to the marketing or provide a support base or promote the sector? In many areas the local authorities own piers and harbours where much of the sea-angling happens. There is an opportunity for them to play a role in supporting and promoting that activity.

It offers a great deal of potential in coastal and rural communities, never more so than now, when there is so little money coming into the local economy. It could mean that some young people would find employment. Ms Campion says that 10,000 are employed as a result of the development of the sector.

Is there a strategy to develop and market angling more? We have a fantastic coastline which has great variety of fish species. Not much can better being on a boat three or four miles off the coast with a nice bobble. It does not matter whether one is fishing for pollack, mackerel or whatever because one gets a great sense of freedom from sea angling. There is a lot of potential for sea angling and I would appreciate hearing the views of the delegation on same.

It was said that all species are under threat. Is that due to the depletion in stocks? Nearly all species are under threat. Is that the result of over fishing at a commercial level? Are other factors involved?