John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 63: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources further to a previous parliamentary question of 25 January 2006, if there is evidence to show that Spanish fishing efforts in the Irish Box are not increasing; if this practice is still in place; the amount of time Spanish vessels spent in the Irish Box in 2005, 2004 and 2003; if these figures are definite or approximate; the way in which the Government is ensuring that the maximum efforts allowed are not being exceeded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6950/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As previously explained to the Deputy, 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 remain in place and are legislatively enforced at EU level. 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 state. Information from the Commission indicates that for the year to end November 2005 Spain is within all of its effort allocations and had used up 84% of its annual effort allocation for demersal species in the biologically sensitive area by the end of that month. For all of 2004 the effort consumption rate was 86%.

The issue of who should ensure compliance with the limits is at the core of the Deputy's question and I will focus specifically on that aspect. It is a prerequisite for an effective fishing effort regime that includes many member state zones that a co-ordinating body such as the European Commission should play the central role in monitoring the performance of each member state insofar as compliance with the fishing effort ceilings is concerned. Any suggestion that individual member states would somehow be better placed to undertake this task is ill-founded and based on a misunderstanding of the Common Fisheries Policy, CFP.

Under the CFP, each member state exercises responsibility for vessels flying its flag and this includes the requirement that its vessels complete and submit log sheet returns for all fishing operations irrespective of geographical location. Fishing effort reports by member states are compiled from these logbook records. Member states must maintain and make available to the Commission for audit purposes on request the log sheet returns which are a critical element in providing assurance on the levels of fishing effort in any given area. Through a combination of reporting and audit requirements, the Commission is thus ideally placed to monitor the situation and to take action in the event of non-compliance with the limits. I have every confidence in the Commission's capacity to discharge its function in this matter.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, on his appointment, and wish him the very best.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Hear, hear. Well done.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish him tight nets.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister of State has a difficult task in that regard, with the many loose ends left on the departure of the former Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, though I recognise his efforts as well.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Now he has tunnel difficulties.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In light of the concern expressed by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on over-fishing, how is time spent by Spanish trawlers in Irish waters gauged? I find it strange that stricter measures are not being imposed on Spanish vessels on fishing within the Irish Box. I tried to establish from the former Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, if there was any evidence to show Spanish fishing effort in the Irish Box was not increasing. In his response, the Minister of State said he was not aware there had been an increase.

The new Minister of State at the Department, Deputy Browne, spoke of the EU role with regard to log sheet returns. Since fish up to the value of €2 billion is taken out of Irish waters annually, the methodology of controlling the entry of foreign vessels to Irish waters seems lax. With regard to the protection of Irish waters, the Irish Naval Service is given very little direction as to how it can ensure the log sheet figures are authentic.

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It was agreed in 2004 that the EU would be the co-ordinating organisation. With regard to our own efforts, the Irish Naval Service is very involved and applies no distinction between Irish and non-Irish fishing vessels. All foreign vessels operating with the Irish fisheries patrol area are subject to checks by Irish control authorities at sea or in Irish ports. At sea, these checks include the inspection of fishing gear, and vessels boarded at sea also have their catches inspected for compliance with EU fishery legislation on the minimum size of fish. The proper recording of catches is also checked. At the land base, regular checks are also carried out by inspectors on all vessels landing into Irish ports. The Spanish ships within Irish waters would be under the same inspection regime as Irish boats.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Is it the case that for Spanish vessels fishing in the Irish Box, not going through Irish ports but going to their port of origin, there is little or no control on the quantities of fish they take from the Irish Box? The Minister of State has indicated it is the responsibility of the EU to monitor this, but in light of the concerns about substantial overfishing by foreign vessels in the Irish Box, has the Common Fisheries Policy been operational to the proper extent?

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The evidence in that regard is anecdotal. I have in front of me a league table reporting to the EU, and Spain is currently one of the better countries in terms of reporting on effort and on catches to the EU, probably much better than Ireland.