Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Vessels over 18 m continue to pair-trawl in inshore waters. They are allowed to do so due to the High Court overturning the policy directive in October 2020. We know this type of fishing is highly inappropriate. It not only damages the marine environment, but it also directly impacts on inshore fishers' livelihoods and tourism activities due to the reduction in stocks. Over two years later, this matter remains with the court.

I have previously called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to restart the process and establish another policy directive which, at this stage, would have taken less time than the legal route. I ask the Tánaiste to initiate that policy directive in order to address the matter urgently. In the meantime, I encourage the Tánaiste and Minister to look at existing instruments which could be used to restrict these harmful practices. It has come to my attention that the port of Bantry Bay bylaws prohibit trawling in the bay. If that law was enforced, it could make a significant impact in that particular bay in west Cork. Perhaps we could look at other things in the interim. Over the past week there has been damaging trawling in our waters in west Cork.

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