Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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318. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the log period for smaller lobster fishing boats will be extended; if flexibility will be shown in relation to the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2750/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Lobster is a particularly important species for the inshore fishing fleet and is fished predominantly using pots right around the coast.  Any Irish sea-fishing boat with the appropriate licence conditions is eligible to fish for lobster. 

Non-commercial or recreational fishers who do not have a fishing licence can fish for lobster from 1^stMay to 30^thSeptember each year and are limited in the number of pots that can be fished. In addition, recreational fishers are not permitted to sell their catches.

The Deputy may be aware that all sea-fishing boats with an overall length of 10 meters or more are required to have onboard and complete an EU Fishing Logbook. The log-sheet and landing declaration for each trip must be submitted to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) within 48 hours of landing.

Only registered and licensed fishing vessels may sell 'first sale' fish (which is offered for sale for the first time following landing from any vessel). All buyers must register on the website www.fishingnet.ie/salesnotes/. Although many smaller vessels in the Irish fleet do not have vessel monitoring systems or EU Fishing Logbooks, sales of fish must, by law, with some limited exceptions, be recorded on the Sales Notes system operated by the SFPA.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the management of the Logbook and Sales Notes systems, including any compliance issues, is a matter for the SFPA, the independent statutory body responsible for enforcing the State’s sea-fisheries and seafood safety laws. I am therefore precluded from involvement in the operational matters being referred to.