Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he will take to address the calls from groups such as Irish Wildlife Trust, BirdWatch Ireland, Coastwatch and numerous other agencies to ban tangle nets from inshore fishing here as they are causing indiscriminate capture of marine life including critically endangered species such as angel sharks and protected species such as whales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44794/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In Irish waters, tangle nets have primarily been used to target crawfish stocks. The use of tangle nets to fish for crawfish is prohibited in two specified areas off the coasts of Kerry and Galway by the Crawfish (Fisheries Management and Conservation) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 233 of 2006). An incentive based approach, to encourage more environmentally sustainable fishing, is also in place. Funding supports through an Bord Iascaigh Mhara encourage the use of selective fishing methods and gears and the adoption of responsible fishing practices to reduce discarding and bycatch.

In relation to species protected under the Habitats Directive, the Marine Institute has undertaken a programme of risk assessment of sea-fishing activities right around the Irish coast to assess the degree of risk, if any, to species and habitats designated or listed in the Annexes of the Directives. The risk assessment has been undertaken in accordance with guidance from the European Commission. Ireland has committed in the Programme of Measures, submitted to the Commission, to respond to identified risks on a prioritised basis. Further consideration of potential measures and outcomes is necessary.

In May of this year, I announced the establishment of the National Inshore Fisheries Forum and its network of Regional Inshore Forums. The Forums provide inshore fishermen with their own space to convene and discuss issues, develop coherent, widely supported proposals, and bring forward common initiatives. The purpose of the Forums is to facilitate the development of policies and initiatives relating to the sustainable management of inshore fisheries within six nautical miles. Regional Inshore Forums have been set up in each of the six FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group) regions. The membership of the Forums includes fishermen as well as other marine stakeholders, such as environmental interests, to ensure that there is balanced consideration of proposals.