Irish Sea Net Mesh Sizes
Minimum mesh sizes are generally identical across the Irish Sea, but Nephrops nets require 55 mm in Irish waters and 40 mm in the UK zone. The Irish requirement is due to rise to 70 mm from 1 September 1979; the Naval Service and Fisheries Department officers enforce the rules.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry whether different net mesh sizes are required on either side of the 12 mile limit line in the Irish Sea and the authority responsible for enforcement of the regulations involved.
Comment on this
The minimum mesh sizes prescribed are identical in all parts of the Irish Sea with the exception of nets used for fishing for Nephrops (Dublin Bay prawns) where the minimum mesh size at present is 55 millimetres in waters coming within Irish jurisdiction as against 40 millimetres in the UK zone.
The minimum mesh size for Nephrops is to be increased to 70 millimetres for the Irish Sea as a whole from 1 September, 1979 but the UK is pressing to have this change made earlier.
The Naval Service carried out inspections of nets at sea and officers of my Department check nets on board fishing vessels in port.