Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed in a recent report commissioned on behalf of eight fishing agencies in Ireland, Britain and Norway that gil-net or ghost-net fishing in Irish waters has led to the decimation of a number of species, including sharks; the steps he intends to take to control these practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8221/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy refers to a recent report, A Preliminary Investigation on Shelf Edge and Deepwater Fixed Net Fisheries to the West and North of Great Britain, Ireland, around Rockall and Hatton Bank. This important report is under consideration by my Department. The occurrence of so-called "ghost-fishing" as a result of fishing gear being discarded and left on the seabed is a cause for concern and requires remedial attention.

During its EU Presidency, Ireland made it a priority to press for more environmentally friendly fishing methods and, I am pleased to say, succeeded in achieving the adoption of Council conclusions on this important subject. The conclusions were agreed in June 2004 and included provision for the European Commission to develop a pilot project to address the problem of ghost fishing in Community waters through, inter alia, the implementation of a retrieval system to remove lost gear. I anticipate progress on this issue during 2005.

In addition, catch limitations for deep-water sharks were introduced at EU level for the first time for 2005 at the December 2004 Agriculture and Fisheries Council. As many deep-water fisheries straddle international waters where non-EU vessels are also fishing, the need for a wider international approach to the problem is an important consideration. It is therefore important to ensure that the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission is fully involved. Hopefully, it can act as a catalyst for remedial management measures in the wider context.