Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

While I am happy with the reply, I am unhappy that 31% to 90% of certain catches are being thrown back into the water. The Minister of State has put much of the focus on the fishermen to reduce the quantity of fish being caught. Does he agree that, if the 31% to 90% of fish that are being thrown overboard are already dead, in addition to trying to find solutions to address this issue we should put such fish to good use? There is no such thing as a species that is less commercially viable to land because everything has a potential use. For example, while spider crabs in Ireland are considered to be a form of by-product, they are considered to be a valuable commodity in Spain. When my sister-in-law, who is Spanish, sees them lying discarded around Irish harbours, she has a canary. While we should focus on reducing the quantity of discarded fish, we should also deal with reality and ensure that, for want of a better term, this material goes to a good home rather than back to the sea where it encourages the seal population.