Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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531. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures which will be taken to ensure that events which occurred in 2015 arising from the activities of supertrawlers fishing off the coast of Donegal, which resulted in the destruction of hundreds of locally owned fishing traps and pots, will not be repeated or happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28442/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 (the CFP basic regulation), changes to fisheries policy involving access or restriction to fishing opportunities or fishing areas come within the sole competency of the EU.  Only the EU Commission may propose changes and any such proposal must be adopted under the co-decision process by the EU Parliament and EU Council.  Member States, in consultation with the Commission, Member States affected and stakeholders are permitted to introduce non-discriminatory measures for the conservation and management of fish stocks within the 12 mile zone subject to compliance with policy and procedures set down in CFP Regulation.  However, access to the 12 mile zone is set down in the CFP Regulation and may not be changed by an individual Member State.

All foreign fishing vessels, on the north-west coast, other than Northern Ireland vessels in respect of the 6 mile fishing zone, are precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile fishing zone, other than for transit purposes and all foreign pelagic fishing vessels, including pelagic factory vessels, are also precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile fishing zone on the west coast.  In addition, Irish fishing vessels equal to or greater than 36.58 m (120 ft) in length, are precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile zone.