Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 461: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if restrictions and quotas have been placed on the fishing of dog fish or spurdog fishing; the details of any restrictions or quotas placed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6409/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) scientific advice is that the stock of spurdog is depleted, that there should be no targeted fishery for spurdog and that the by-catch in mixed fisheries be reduced to the lowest possible level. On the basis of this advice, Council Regulation (EC) No 40/2008 provides for a 5% by-catch limit for spurdog/dogfish for all community vessels up to a maximum of 390 tonnes for the year in Ireland's case. In effect this means that Irish vessels may not retain onboard an amount of spurdog/dogfish in excess of 5% of the live weight of the total catch retained on board. The total amount of spurdog/dogfish landed by Irish vessels may not exceed 390 tonnes in 2008.