Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

269. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12326/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the additional views supplied by the Deputy's constituent. I would point out that there are a number of different views regarding the possible impact of pair trawling in coastal areas and, in particular, in Kenmare Bay, primarily due to the paucity of accurate information.

That is why, as previously mentioned, I have asked the Marine Institute to  work in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to consider how we can improve our knowledge of the possible impacts of these fisheries on by catch of fish, sea birds and mammals.

Separately, we have the ongoing sprat specific research project being conducted by the Marine Institute and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology as well as the efforts to have sprat added to the species covered by the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund Marine Biodiversity Scheme as previously advised.