Ms Melanie Gomes:

I totally agree with him. Gear trials are taking place. Selectivity would be a very good way of implementing an effective discards ban. There is a lot of work to be done on the issue.

I will answer Deputy Noel Harrington's question on why there has been a rapid decrease. If we look at the scientific literature and the ICES statistics, we can see that, without a doubt, there has been overfishing. We would not be discussing this matter if it was not such a big problem and same urgency was not attached to it. People are now being more cautious because of what happened at the Grand Banks, which was disastrous. The Deputy claimed that cod in the Celtic Sea had been overfished, but I disagree. I know that the Irish fleet has 23 large pelagic vessels. There is an inshore fleet, but demersal fisheries are set differently.

The Deputy also asked my opinion on quota uplift. There should be no increase unless there is scientific evidence on discards from ICES.

We have to go on what we have. Fully documented fisheries and understanding from the fishermen of what they catch and having that documentation will help to manage what is happening.

I agree that some of the larger boats, such as those of the Spanish and Dutch, have a higher quota than Irish boats. Some of these rights are set as part of historical fisheries rights. However, that does not exclude Ireland from putting in responsible measures to try to help the situation for everyone. Herring in certain parts of areas VI and VIII of the Celtic Sea has a zero total allowable catch, TAC. Cod, haddock, sole and hake are overfished in areas of the region but are within requirements of this morning's stock biomass. Bass is also overfished in the Celtic Sea. That is this year's advice.