Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I brought to the attention of the Department of Defence the fishing by Spanish vessels off the Kerry coast, north of the Pistola bank and other areas. I have outlined for Department officials the modus operandi of Spanish vessels fishing for hake. At both ends of the net they use the legal size mesh, but most of the middle area is covered by mesh smaller than the minimum prescribed, which is, however, legal for other types of fish caught in the Bay of Biscay. Apparently they can get away with it when they come ashore by using this pretext.

Some weeks ago when the Naval Service was inspecting the gear on a Spanish vessel it conveniently broke down while being hauled and the vessel was towed ashore, thereby making inspection of the entire net impossible. Has the Minister of State been made aware at any time by fishery inspectors that this situation is ongoing? Have the inspectors ascertained the enormous differences between the amount of hake being landed by the Spanish in comparison to Irish fishing vessels? My understanding is that on an eight to ten day trip, 28 tonnes is landed, equivalent to four times what the Irish vessels could land for the same duration. Is there a liaison procedure between the Minister of State's Department and the Department of Defence about what the fishermen describe as illegal fishing by Spanish vessels off the Kerry coast?

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