John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason figures for lobster fishermen are taken from where they are sold rather than where they are caught; if this situation will be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13303/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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While the landing figures for lobster catches are taken from the buyers at the time of sale, this information includes the port of landing for the vessel that landed the catch. The reason is that the majority of boats that fish for lobster are under ten metres in length, and consequently are not required to submit logsheets to the Department. The catch figure is subsequently allocated to the relevant port so that the statistics accurately reflect the ports where the catch is landed. For example, the Department's records show that there were 15 tonnes of lobster landed into Achill in 2003 and 12 tonnes in 2004. There are no plans at present to change this procedure.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the compilation of statistics on the landings of Irish vessels of quota species in ports here and abroad in each of the past five years as well as the quotas that applied in each year for these species will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13366/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The following is the information sought by the Deputy. It is regretted that it was not possible to provide the information earlier but additional time was required to ensure that a comprehensive and detailed statistical response could be collated for all elements of the Deputy's previous questions on this matter.

My Department has compiled the requested fisheries statistics on the landings, both volume and value, of Irish fishing vessels of quota species into Irish ports and into non-national ports for each of the past five years as well as the quotas that applied for these fish species. These fishery statistics are presented in the following appendices.

Appendix one consists of five separate tables with the quotas for each fish species that applied for that year and the quantity of each species of fish caught and landed by Irish fishing vessels into Irish ports and into non-national ports; this is broken down into other member states and non-EU countries.

Appendix two consists of five separate tables that present data on the total volume and value for each species landed for each year.

The following advisory notes will assist the Deputy's understanding of the fisheries statistics. The stock area defined in each of the tables is by definition a geographical area within which a catch allocation is made for an individual fish species. The geographical scope of a stock area is usually composed of one or more ICES sub-areas. The defined stock areas are subject to change from year to year and as a result direct correlation of the data from one year to the next is not possible in all cases.

The data contained in these tables of fisheries statistics are the officially recorded statistics as reported to the European Commission. The data presented are accurate at the time of my reply but it should be noted that some of these officially reported statistics may be subject to change depending on the outcome of a number of investigations currently being carried out. With regard to the value of fish landed into non-national ports this has had to be estimated as there is no reporting requirement within the European framework for the reporting of fishery statistics to include the value of landed catches The value applied to fish landed into Ireland by Irish fishing vessels is based on an estimated average price at the time of landing.

In appendix one the data are displayed in the following format: column one identifies the fish species. Column two identifies the stock area within which the quota allocation has been made. Column three contains the quota, adjusted following swop arrangements with fellow member states, allocated to Ireland for that species in that year. Column four contains details of the volume of fish landed by Irish fishing vessels into Irish ports. Column five contains details of the volume of fish landed by Irish fishing vessels into non-national ports. Column six contains details of the volume of fish landed by Irish fishing vessels into ports outside the EU.

In appendix two the data are displayed in the following format. Column one contains details of the fish species for which there has been a quota allocation. Column two contains details of the volume, expressed in live weight, of the fish landed. Column three contains details of value of the landings using the national average price per tonne in euro for that species. Column four contains the total estimated value at first sale for each species.

At the bottom of each table in appendix two the total estimated value for all quota species caught and landed by Irish fishing vessels during the year is recorded.