Written answers
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Department of Agriculture and Food
Fishing Industry Development
12:00 pm
Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 806: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 219 of 2 April 2009, the position to date regarding a fishery (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/09]
Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The cockle fishery remains closed due to restrictions arising from our obligations under the Birds & Habitats Directives and a related European Court of Justice Judgement. A plan outlining Ireland's roadmap to compliance with these Directives has been submitted to DG Environment and a follow-up meeting between Irish officials and the Commission took place in May.
DG Environment advised that it was positively disposed towards an interim approach for wild fisheries whereby best available data together with the collection of some limited additional data would be used as an interim assessment to consider the impacts of these activities on the Natura sites. This assessment would inform and determine possible fishing opportunities, based on a precautionary approach. Fisheries opened in Natura sites would, in any case, have to be subject to stringent management arrangements (including possibly limiting access, restrictions on areas fished / gears used, time spent fishing) and additional control arrangements. As soon as full data is available on sites, these fisheries will be subject to full Appropriate Assessment under the Directives.
In the case of the fishery specified a lot of work has been carried out at this site including most recently a stock survey. However the fishery will not be considered for opening until the Road map for compliance submitted to DG Environment has been formally accepted. That response is currently awaited from the Commission. In line with the provisions of the road map any proposed fishery will be subject to an interim assessment and a fishery will be subject to the outcome of that assessment.
My officials are in regular contact with the fishermen's representatives and will continue to keep them updated on developments in this regard.
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