Irish fleet catches and sustainable stocks
Lenihan said catches were not recorded by location, though Irish vessels fish on both sides of the UK median line in the north and east; the recorded national catch was about 100,000 tons. He acknowledged the need for stronger research and promised to provide an approximate estimate of what could be caught sustainably.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the total catch of fish by the Irish fleet in 1978 within our 200-mile limit, and the estimated total amount of fish in that area which could be caught annually without depletion of stocks.
Comment on this
Catches of fish by the Irish fleet are not recorded in a way which would enable me to say whether they were taken inside or outside our 200-mile limit. As I indicated in reply to Question No. 4, total allowable catches are not calculated by reference to national fishery limits.
Comment on this
Surely it should be very easy to calculate, because we hardly fish at all outside the 200-mile limit?
Comment on this
We do actually. On the west and south coasts, what the Deputy says is correct—all the fish taken by Irish vessels are caught within the Irish 200-mile limit. But on the north coast and in the Irish Sea Irish vessels habitually operate on both sides of the median line between ourselves and the United Kingdom. Quite a substantial catch is taken in UK waters by Irish vessels off the east and northern coasts; off the west and southern coasts the position is as the Deputy said.
Comment on this
I still think the Minister should be able to give an estimate. The last part of the Minister's reply is really an indictment of our lack of research. It is obvious that we do not know what lies out as far as the 200-mile limit.
Comment on this
I am inclined to agree with the Deputy that our research does need to be strengthened and that is what I am at at present. Just as a matter of interest, the total catch of sea fish recorded in Ireland was in the region of 100,000 tons. To a fairly large extent that would be caught within the 200-mile limit, if that is any indication to the Deputy. But there is a proportion of catch taken on the UK side of the east and north coasts.
Comment on this
I asked the Minister if he could give us an estimate of what is there, what could be caught annually without depletion of stocks?
Comment on this
I could get an approximate figure only for the Deputy but I will certainly try to do that.