Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans regarding the lobster stock numbers; his plans to provide for access to stock in a limited and sustainable way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40444/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Analysis of lobster stocks over recent years has shown that lobster stocks are over exploited in many areas around the coast. The catch per pot haul has declined in those areas and while the stock does not appear to be in imminent danger, the reduction in catch rates has resulted in fishermen using more and more pots to maintain their earnings.

Present measures to protect the lobster stock include Council Regulation (EC) No. 850/98, which prescribes a minimum landing size of 85mm for lobster and the Lobster Conservation of Stocks Regulations 2006, which prohibit the catching, landing or sale of v-notched lobsters. The lobster v-notching and live return scheme, operated by BIM and co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund, is a vital national tool in ensuring that many female lobsters caught are v-notched by BIM staff and returned alive to the sea to spawn and contribute to the reproduction of the stock over many years.

My policy for all sea-fisheries is to promote sustainable fishing, good environmental practice and compliance with law. In the case of inshore fisheries, in light of the judgement of the European Court of Justice against Ireland concerning non-compliance with the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, the overriding priority continues to be to bring all inshore fisheries and aquaculture in Natura 2000 sites into full compliance with the EU Birds & Habitats Directives.

The Habitats Directive requires that an appropriate assessment consider the potential impact of the proposed activity on the conservation objectives for each Natura 2000 site affected. Given the national nature of the lobster fishery, almost all of the approximately 90 Natura sites around our coast could be affected. In addition, the Directive requires that the potential impacts on the habitat of a proposed activity be considered in combination with the potential impacts of all other activities or proposed activities in each Natura site, including other fisheries, aquaculture and non-fishing activities.

The resource intensive Natura 2000 compliance project will ultimately lead to appropriate assessment of all of our Natura sites. That multi annual, multi-agency project is continuing to address appropriate assessment of each of our Natura sites in turn. A substantial body of scientific data has been generated over the course of recent years and is now near completion. The project is currently focussed on roll-out of appropriate assessments. Three comprehensive appropriate assessments under the Habitats Directive are already completed, in respect of Castlemaine Harbour County Kerry, Dundalk Bay Co. Louth and Roaring Water Bay Co Cork. Work is at an advanced stage in respect of Lough Swilly Co Donegal and Clew Bay Co Mayo, among others.