Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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442. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding fishing with micro-nets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48930/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I assume from the Deputy's question that he is referring to the issue of fishing by means of pair trawling. My Department has received a number of queries from various groups regarding the issue of pair trawling by fishing vessels including in relation to marine Special Areas of Conservation.

My Department understands that pair trawling in inshore waters and estuaries around Ireland is confined to fishing for sprat and that there are a number of potential impacts that the fishery could have on the local ecology of these areas. In 2017, the Marine Institute is involved in an enhanced data collection program on coastal sprat fisheries that will provide new data on by-catch rates of non-target species.

In addition, a risk assessment was undertaken by the Marine Institute of fisheries interactions in Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The assessment included the potential risk posed by fishing for sprat:

- in the Shannon Estuary to the resident Bottle Nose Dolphin population, and

- in Kenmare Bay for Harbour Seals.

The assessment concludes that:

- The infrequent sprat fishery along the Clare and Kerry coasts is unlikely to significantly affect the Shannon estuary Bottle Nose Dolphin population.

- Local resident populations of this species do not rely on the food subsidy provided by immigration of pelagic fish.

- Also, they do not specialize in feeding on shoaling fish and take individual prey that are larger than sprat (16cm).

- The Bottle Nose Dolphin population in the Shannon Estuary SAC is reported to be stable.

- In relation to Harbour Seals in Kenmare Bay, the assessment noted that the risk posed by pelagic fishing on harbour seals through by-catch and disturbance of haul-out locations was low.

I encourage anyone who may have a concern about pair trawling by fishing vessels to work with the fishing industry on the issue through the industry’s representatives, i.e. the various fish producer organisations and the Inshore Fisheries Forums.