Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce new legislation to update the 1875 by-law prohibiting the practice of trawling within the confines of Inver Bay, County Donegal. [5960/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I understand that Fisheries Bye-Law No. 7 of 16 February 1857 remains in force in relation to Inver bay. Bye-Law No. 7 is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Energy and natural Resources. While Bye-Law No. 7 prohibits trawling within Inver Bay within a straight line from the Bian Rock to Doorin Point it is effectively unenforceable given the very low level of penalty involved.

Any vessel trawling within this area is breaching the Bye Law. I am aware that local pot fishermen are reported on occasion to have had their gear towed away by trawlers operating in the Bay. In my view, the loss of or damage to gear caused by these trawlers is most effectively dealt with as a civil matter between the parties involved. In essence the issue arising here is a matter of access to inshore waters by larger fishing vessels using particular types of fishing gear and if any changes to the current arrangements were to be considered this would have to be examined on a national basis.