Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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1156. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will establish a commercial inshore hook and line fishery for bass including a quota in Tralee Bay. [15042/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has been to the forefront in protecting the vulnerable Sea Bass stock for many years with a complete prohibition on commercial fishing in place since 1990. In addition, EU vessels are prohibited from fishing for Sea Bass in Irish waters of Area 7 (the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and waters of the south-west and west coast).

Recreational fisheries are also strictly controlled with only catch and release recreational fisheries allowed in January, February and December and a bag limit of two fish per fisher per day from 1 March to 30 November.

In Irish waters, the Sea Bass stock is at its maximum northerly range and the stock is considerably smaller than that in more southern waters. It is a slow growing species, making it particularly vulnerable to over-fishing. Consequently, there are no plans to re-introduce commercial fishing for Sea Bass in waters around Ireland at present.