§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many fishing vessels from other EU member states have fished in the Irish box since 1 January; which EU flags they were flying; what is the estimate of the tonnage caught by these vessels; and what were the principal ports where they landed their catches. [30368]
§ Mr. BaldryThe Irish box comprises waters which fall within both British and Irish fishery limits. Information about the total number of fishing vessels from other member states which have fished in the Irish box since 1 January 1996, the tonnage of fish caught by these vessels and the principal ports at which that catch was landed is not available on a systematic basis.
New regulations to monitor fishing effort in western waters including the Irish box came into operation on 1 January this year. They apply to vessels over 18m in overall length, 15m between perpendiculars, with effort ceilings being set for the over 18m fleet of each member state by the principal types of fishery other than those for pelagic fish. Vessels over 18m from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom are permitted to fish in the Irish box within the effort ceilings which have been set. The number of Spanish vessels permitted to fish in the Irish box is limited to a maximum of 40 at any one time.