asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the estimated stocks of blue whiting, hake, and horse mackerel within the Irish 200 mile limit and the scientifically recommended annual total allowable catch for each species.

Estimates of stock size and total allowable catches are not calculated by reference to national fishery limits but by internationally accepted statistical areas that is ICES areas, most of which encompass waters within the fishery limits of more than one country.

The 1979 total allowable catches recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea for the species in question in European waters and adopted by the EEC Commission are as follows: Blue Whiting, 580,000 tonnes, Areas IV, VI, VII, XIV; Hake, 43,000 tonnes, Areas IV, VI, VII, VIII; Horse Mackerel, 250,000 tonnes, Areas IV, VI, VII, VIII.