Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of fishery boats that are licensed to operate in each of the national fishery harbours each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40610/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Sea Fishing Boat Licences issued by the independent Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats are not area-specific. Any Irish commercial sea-fishing vessel may engage in commercial sea fishing activities in EU non-precluded waters in accordance with the licensing conditions attaching to its sea fishing boat licence and may use the facilities of any one of the 6 Fishery Harbours, or any other harbour in the State, in accordance with the requirements of their individual fishing operations.

There is no licensing condition requiring a vessel to use a specific harbour as a general matter, although certain harbours are designated for the landing of specified quantities of certain species, for control purposes.

The number of Irish registered commercial sea fishing vessels for the years concerned is as follows:

(1) Year 2003: 1,528

(2) Year 2004: 1,438

(3) Year 2005: 1,421

(4) Year 2006: 1,811

(5) Year 2007: 1,935