John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

What assurance can the Minister of State provide regarding the monitoring of fishing effort levels in this area? Are fishing effort levels being monitored? It has come to my attention that some Spanish interests are attempting to have the fishing effort levels of large deep water freezer trawlers currently fishing in the NAFO waters transferred to Area 7. Can the Minister of State assure Irish fishermen this will not be allowed to happen as it will result in increased fishing in the area?

Can the Minister of State provide assurances on the level of monitoring? Who is undertaking this monitoring currently? The Minister of State may not be aware of such an increase in effort but how can he be sure it is not happening?

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