P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to create marine protected areas in the seas around the Irish coast; if he plans to introduce legislation to create MPAs; the agreements conventions or discussions that he has entered into to create MPAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17002/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In 2006 Ireland (the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government) formally designated 4 marine sites off the west and south-west coast of Ireland (Belgica Mound Province, Hovland Mound Province, the Northwest Porcupine Bank and the South West Porcupine Bank) as Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) to conserve resident cold water coral reefs. Arising from concern that the continuous uses of active and passive fishing gears within the sites would undermine their conservation, in July 2006 Ireland asked the EU Commission to bring forward proposals for measures that would either provide for prohibition on fishing in these areas and/or would prohibit the use of fishing gear likely to cause damage to the coral reefs.

After extensive discussion and negotiation with all the stakeholders, a ban on all bottom trawling and fishing with static gears was introduced in these four areas in the TAC and Quota Regulation for 2008 (EU Council Regulation 40/2008). A derogation was allowed for certain pelagic fisheries using mid-water trawls that make no contact with the sea bed and as such do not pose a threat to the corals. The ban was renewed in the TAC and Quota Regulation for 2009 (EU Council Regulation 43/2009). The validity of the ban was then extended until 30 June 2011 in the Transitional Technical Measures Regulation (EU Council Regulation 1288/2