asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry whether he has considered the serious implications for recreational line-shore fishermen following on the restriction on the size of fish which may be caught on a line from the shore.

The only complaint of this nature by line-shore fishermen of which I am aware is regarding the increase in the minimum size to 45 centimetres for cod taken in the sea area off the east and south-east coasts. This increase arose from an EEC Regulation which was made in September of last year.

I fully appreciate the special problem which this increase is presenting for sea anglers and I have already approached the EEC Commission with a view to alleviating the problem.