Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 331: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will make a statement on the current and prospective strength of both crab and lobster species in Irish fishing grounds; the estimated future extent of the amount of further fishing that both species can take before critical conservation levels may be reached; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37463/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I have been advised by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) that recent assessments of crab and lobster stocks undertaken by them indicate that both fisheries are fully exploited. In the case of lobster a number of biological and economic indicators used in the assessment and in discussion with industry suggest that further effort increases would erode profitability in the industry and increase the risk of recruitment failure in the stock.

In the case of crab, although recruitment seems to be well protected, the decline in catch per effort rates strongly suggest that further increase in effort would threaten the viability of this fishery for all operators. This fishery also occurs outside of the Irish national 12-mile limit and is fished by vessels from Northern Ireland, Scotland and France. Under the Western Waters Effort Regime effort ceilings have been adopted for the Crab fishery in waters around Ireland for all Member States.

The Crab and Lobster advisory groups, which are established under the Management Framework for Shellfisheries and which include industry representatives, are currently examining management arrangements for these fisheries. The advisory groups are considering arrangements including a limit on the number of vessels in these fisheries, the management of effort and adding to the technical conservation measures that are already in place.

I have asked BIM to undertake a consultation with stakeholders on the proposals brought forward by the Advisory Groups.