Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

New fishing effort levels were established for western waters following intensive negotiations during 2003 and 2004. The new regime established fishing effort levels for whitefish, scallop and crab fisheries based on the actual levels of fishing effort exerted by the various fleets over the five-year period 1998 to 2002.

The implementation of the new western waters regime also involved the establishment of a biologically sensitive area to the south and south west of Ireland, the so-called new Irish Box, where specific effort limits were also established. On the basis of a case made by Ireland, this area was scientifically proven as being especially sensitive owing to its importance as a spawning and nursery area to important whitefish species such as hake and megrims in particular.

The fishing effort levels laid down in Council Regulation 1415 of 2004 are subject to detailed reporting requirements by all member states concerned. These maximum effort levels are legislatively enforced at EU level and any breach of those limits by the fishing fleets of any member state is subject to possible infringement proceedings by the European Commission against that member state. Therefore, the European Commission is in an effective position to monitor the situation and take action in the event of non-compliance with the limits.

I am not aware that there has been an increase in effort beyond the permitted levels by the fishing vessels of any member state. As these levels reflect the fishing activity in the period 1998 to 2002, they do not allow for increases in excess of that employed at that time. The fishing effort limits established provide the necessary protection for fish stocks in waters around Ireland, both inside and outside the Irish Box.

See this speech in context