Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the context for the restrictions put on the catching of the Spurdog species of fish; if these restrictions will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7425/08]

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. I have asked the Marine Institute to examine the current fisheries that are affected by the provisions in relation to spurdog and to advise me if there is a case to have a review of the current restrictions.