Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide an explanation of the proposal here to create marine protection areas with a timeframe to ensure that fish in Irish waters do not fall below biological safe limits. [32683/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The management and conservation of fish stocks is provided for under the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). To ensure that the fishing pressure is not higher than the stocks can sustain and taking into account the scientific advice on fish stocks provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and quotas are agreed by the EU Fisheries Council for fish stocks. In addition, other conservation measures are set down under the CFP including limitation of fishing effort, technical measures (rules in relation to fishing gears and minimum landing sizes), and obligations to record and report catches and landings.

Four offshore sites to protect cold water corals have already been designated at EU level as Marine Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and given legal effect in the EU TAC and quota Regulation so that bottom trawling and fishing with static gear by all fleets operated in Ireland's Exclusive Fisheries Zone are prohibited in the area. A significant number of other sites have also been designated in inshore waters under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. DAFF is working with DEH&LG, BIM, Marine Institute and stakeholders to provide appropriate management in these sites and to ensure their effective conservation.