Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 473: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that imported lobsters from Canada and the US are reported to be less than the Irish minimum gauge of 87 mm; and the steps that he is taking to address this issue. [22950/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Currently the legal minimum size for the European Lobster (Homarus gammarus) is 87mm carapace length as laid down in EU Regulation 850/98 as amended. The regulations apply only to the European lobster caught in European waters. This legal minimum size does not apply to the American or Canadian Lobster (Homarus gammarus) when imported into Ireland as the European legislation is a fisheries conservation instrument designed to address conservation of EU lobster stocks.