Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 597: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the national fish stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22970/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), indicated that the European eel stock is now outside safe biological limits. It advised that a recovery plan be developed for the whole stock of European eel and that exploitation and other human activities affecting the stock be reduced to as close to zero as possible. As required under EU Council Regulation, Ireland submitted a Government approved draft Eel Management Plan to the Commission for approval.

Last month two bye-laws were introduced to give effect to the National Eel Management Plan put in place to protect our dwindling eel stocks. These closed the commercial and recreational eel fishery until June 2012. The decision to cease the eel fishery was taken to support a recovery of the stock in the shortest time possible. Under the Regulation, all aspects of the Plan must be reviewed in 2012. This review will consider whether the eel fishery and market could be reopened in any River Basin District in light of the data gathered in the interim and the performance of stocks. At that stage, the bye-laws which were introduced to close the commercial and recreational eel fishery until June 2012 will be reviewed.

The ESB, as part of their implementation of the eel plan, have recently advertised for tenders to undertake trap and transport operations. Ambitious targets have been set within the plan including the trapping and transport of at least 40 tonnes of eel around the turbines at Ardnacrusha and Ballyshannon. Experienced eel fishermen would be in a very strong position to tender competitively for the provision of the trap and transport operations. There will also be a limited amount of fishing associated with the research and monitoring to be carried out under the plan. This will be in the region of 150 man days spread over six river basin districts.