Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he would allow fishermen to keep cray fish measuring 100 mm instead of the current 110 mm limit as the rest of Europe allows catches of over 90 mm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40240/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Council Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 presently imposes an EU minimum landing size (MLS) for crawfish of 95mm, but was originally enacted as a MLS of 110mm. The EU Regulation was changed with effect from May 2001 to specify the present EU MLS of 95mm. The EU Regulation permits Member States to enact national measures supplementing or going beyond the minimum requirements specified in the EU Regulation, provided they are restricted to the Member State’s own fishing vessels or to persons established in that Member State.

Ireland’s Crawfish (Conservation of Stocks) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 232 of 2006) prohibit the landing, transhipment, retention on board, or sale of crawfish below a national minimum landing size of 110mm. Ireland enacted this higher national MLS in 2001 as it was considered that the lower EU MLS introduced in 2001 offered no conservation protection for the species which was suffering from severe over-fishing.

In 2011, I asked BIM and the Marine Institute to conduct a review of Ireland’s technical conservation measures for crawfish. The Review was conducted in consultation with crawfish fishermen, shellfish buyers and other stakeholders. That Review concluded that a reduction in the national MLS to 95mm would lead to a circa 42% reduction in the reproductive potential of the crawfish stock. A sustainable crawfish fishery could not be maintained in those circumstances.

It is worth noting that the Review found that 110mm is in fact the most commonly adopted MLS in Northern Europe.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will retain the current lobster size restriction of 87 mm and not impose an upper limit of 127 mm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40241/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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On 20 August 2013 my Department initiated a consultation process on proposals to change the current lobster stock management rules. A parallel consultation is underway on shrimp stock management. The deadline for submissions has been extended to 25 October 2013 which I hope will facilitate the participation of all interested parties.

Currently there are two legal restrictions which provide protection to the lobster stock, namely a minimum landing size of 87mm and a prohibition on fishing v-notched lobsters, all of which are over 87mm. The minimum landing size protects juvenile lobster and allows some spawning to occur before lobsters enter the fishery. The v-notch regulation prohibits the landing of v-notched lobsters until the notch is repaired by growth (usually occurs over 2-4 years) thus allowing such lobsters to contribute to spawning and thereby promote sustainability of the lobster stock.

Recent stock assessments, and evaluation of the existing conservation measures, indicate that spawning stock is not adequately protected and recruitment to lobster stocks may be impaired. Having examined the issue with scientific experts from the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, I am now seeking stakeholder input on two alternative proposals; either to introduce a maximum landing size of 127mm or to increase the minimum landing size from 87mm to 90mm. The published consultation documents are available online on my Department's website and copies have been made available at the coastal offices of BIM, the Marine Institute and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. In addition copies have been circulated to v-notching co-operatives, fisheries producer organisations and the Environmental Pillar.

I would encourage all stakeholders, particularly those currently engaged in lobster fishing, to participate in the assessment of these proposals. On conclusion of the consultation stage, I will review the submissions received with scientific experts before determining the most appropriate measure to ensure the sustainability of the lobster stock.