Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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934. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that a ban on super trawlers fishing vessels from Irish waters is enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20231/20]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is a set of rules for managing European fishing fleets and for conserving fish stocks.  Under this policy EU fishing fleets are given equal access to EU waters and fishing grounds subject to allocated fish quotas. 

In relation to the access so-called "super trawlers" have to Irish waters, I should point out that all foreign fishing vessels, on the north-west coast, are excluded from Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone, other than for transit purposes.  All foreign pelagic fishing vessels, including pelagic fishing vessels, are also precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile fishing zone on the west coast.  

Irish fishing vessels greater than or equal to 36.58m (120 feet) in length fishing by means of trawls are precluded from fishing in Ireland's 12 mile zone.  From 1 January 2020,  all trawling by larger trawlers, over 18m in length, in coastal waters inside Ireland’s 6-mile zone ceased other than for a sprat fishery which is being phased out during 2020 and 2021.