John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if a monitoring requirement involving the need to weigh pelagic landings while in tanker lorries at the pier has been reintroduced; the reason he has taken this action; his views on whether a volume of these landings will be just water in view of the fact that pelagic vessels pay harbour dues based on their landings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11409/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Annex III of Council regulation (EC) no. 41/2007 of 21 December 2006 specifies the landing and weighing procedures for herring, mackerel and horse mackerel in ICES zones I to VII.

Responsibility for enforcing this regulation rests with the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) which was established as an independent authority on January 1st 2007. The Authority has autonomy as to how it carries out its control and enforcement duties. In this regard, the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 provides that the Authority must, in writing, report to the Minister in relation to the performance of its functions on an annual basis and the Minister shall have copies of the report laid before each House of the Oireachtas.

The Act also provides that a Consultative Committee comprising stakeholders will be established to inform the Authority of the concerns and views of the sea-fisheries and seafood sectors regarding the functions of the Authority. I have sought nominations for this Committee and I hope to be in a position to formally appoint the members shortly. This Committee will provide a good opportunity for industry to raise issues in relation to the control activities of the Authority.