Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the industrial mussel seed dredging being carried out by trawlers within the State’s six mile territorial limit, his views on the recent case in Dublin Bay; the current regulations pertaining to this activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34315/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to the activity of fishing for mussel seed which is gathered from wild seed beds and subsequently relaid on seabed farms on behalf of aquaculture operators for on-growing to marketable size.  According to Bord Iascaigh Mhara's Annual Aquaculture Survey, the seabed mussel sector comprises 40 companies and production in 2015 was valued at €6m.  

In accordance with Determination No. 16 of the Need for an Authorisation for Certain Fish Stocks, an Irish sea-fishing boat wishing to  fish for mussel seed requires an authorisation from my Department under section 13 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. An authorisation is also required to retain mussel seed on board a vessel, to trans-ship mussel seed from a vessel or to land mussels from a vessel.  In addition, the Mussel Seed (Fishing) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 311 of 2006) specify certain requirements for vessels engaged in mussel seed fishing. The enforcement of this sea-fisheries legislation is a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, which is independent in the performance of its functions.  The fishery closed this year on 5 November in accordance with S.I. No. 551 of 2016 Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Mussel Seed) (Opening of Fisheries) (Amendment) Regulations 2016.  

In addition to the fishing regulations referred to above, the fishing activity is also subject to a number of Fisheries Natura Declarations which have been made following appropriate assessment of the potential impact of the activity on the features of Natura 2000 sites in the Irish Sea (including the Dublin Bay area) and in Castlemaine Harbour.  The Declarations and related documents are published online at www.fishingnet.ie.