John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

The spring fishery for herring is closed. If the owners of Atlantic Dawn have a replacement vessel registered and licensed and ready for the autumn fishery, the replacement vessel will be eligible for an allocation of the herring quota.

Atlantic Dawn was given an allocation involving a catch limit of mackerel in January last. This catch limit, allocated by means of authorisation issued by the Minister, was subject to several conditions. The catch limit expired on 7 December. In normal circumstances, unused allocation reverts to the national pool for redistribution to other vessels. Following the de-registration of Atlantic Dawn, the unused mackerel allocation has automatically reverted to the national pool. The vessel owners do not own the quota; it is a national asset. Normal practice would be, where possible, to facilitate the company if it introduces a replacement vessel before 7 December 2007.

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