Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when mixed stock fishing will be re-opened in Area 6A; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4625/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Council Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 of 27 November 2009 established transitional technical measures for the period 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011. Subsequent measures were established by Regulation (EU) No 579/2011 of 8 June 2011 for the period 1 July, 2011 to 31 December 2012. In Area VIa, an effort regime, restricting the number of days at sea each year in the area is in place to protect cod. The effort levels available for 2013 were rolled over from 2012 and a reduction was not applied. Vessels must have access to fishing effort under the Cod Recovery Plan which is based on historic track record. A prohibition on the use of gillnets in the eastern part of Area VIa under the transitional technical measures Regulation ceased to have legal effect from the end of December 2012.

The Transitional Technical Measures Regulations amended Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles or marine organisms and provided for the continuation of certain technical measures established in Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 of 16 January 2009. A new technical conservation measures framework is awaited in the light of the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). In the interim an extension of the application of the transitional technical measures is necessary.

In October 2012 following triologues on the issue facilitated by the Cyprus Presidency, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers agreed a new extension to the transitional technical measures. The measures envisaged enable restricted fishing with gillnets including providing for a lesser spotted dogfish fishery, which was a specific request of Ireland. The measures also allow for a gill net fishery south of 59 degrees north. The Parliament has yet to formally ratify the new regulation on transitional technical measures by means of a vote. The measures as outlined in Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 now take precedence in terms of technical conservation measures pending the adoption of the transitional technical measures.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when cray and monk fishing will be permitted in Area 6A; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4626/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Council Regulation (EC) No 1288/2009 of 27 November 2009 established transitional technical measures for the period 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2011. Subsequent measures were established by Regulation (EU) No 579/2011 of 8 June 2011 for the period 1 July, 2011 to 31 December 2012. In Area VIa, an effort regime, restricting the number of days at sea each year in the area is in place to protect cod. The effort levels available for 2013 were rolled over from 2012 and a reduction was not applied.

The monkfish fishery is subject to a monthly quota limit set following advice from the Whitefish Quota Management Advisory Committee where the industry representatives provide advice to the Minister. In addition, vessels must have access to fishing effort under the Cod Recovery Plan which is based on historic track record. In relation to crayfish fished by means of gillnet, this fishery is also subject to fishing effort restrictions and available effort is severely limited because there is only very limited track record of gill net fishing in Area Via. A prohibition on the use of gillnets in the eastern part of Area VIa under the transitional technical measures Regulation ceased to have legal effect from the end of December 2012.

The Transitional Technical Measures Regulations amended Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles or marine organisms and provided for the continuation of certain technical measures established in Council Regulation (EC) No 43/2009 of 16 January 2009. A new technical conservation measures framework is awaited in the light of the ongoing reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). In the interim an extension of the application of the transitional technical measures is necessary.

In October 2012 following triologues on the issue facilitated by the Cyprus Presidency, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers agreed a new extension to the transitional technical measures. The measures envisaged enable restricted fishing with gillnets including providing for a lesser spotted dogfish fishery, which was a specific request of Ireland. The measures also allow for a gill net fishery south of 59 degrees north. The Parliament has yet to formally ratify the new regulation on transitional technical measures by means of a vote. The measures as outlined in Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 now take precedence in terms of technical conservation measures pending the adoption of the transitional technical measures.