My question is for the Minister, Deputy Creed. Like me, he has been contacted by a number of fishermen in the south and south west over the last ten days regarding the opening of the spurdog fishery. We discussed this almost two years ago and the Minister indicated then that he would look at pilot areas where we could do trials in various bays and so on. Nothing has happened yet, to my knowledge. Will the Minister give immediate consideration to opening the spurdog fishery because of the abundance of spurdogs there? I have been told that by people who are fishing, gilnetting and so on. It is an opportunity and a lucrative industry for depressed fishermen if the Minister is prepared to open it.

The Department takes advice on non-quota species from the Marine Institute. I am not aware of any advice on opening a fishery opportunity for spurdog but I will check on the matter and revert to the Deputy.