Mr. Andrew Kinneen:

Reference was made by Deputy Harrington to the potential of inshore mackerel fisheries. It should be noted that the outtakes of TAC species, whether taken inshore or offshore, all have to come from our national TAC. BIM operates a select representative group of, I understand, approximately 100 vessels. We take statistics from them and extrapolate them to model the outtakes of inshore fisheries, which we then model into the statistical returns given to the Commission and, in turn, to ICES.

The good news is that a lot of the high value species are not TAC species, such as lobster and crayfish, and are not subject to such limitations. There is great fishing effort limitation and the trend to use more fishing gear for fewer returns is a notable feature of what is currently happening. It points to the need for good marine spatial planning.

On the protection of velvet crab, the Deputy has caught me offside. I am not in a position to answer his question but I will research it and revert to him. I cannot quote him a minimum size for the species. We regulate all the landings of fishermen, go through all their catches with them and determine whether clawing or whatever else might apply.