653. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of activity of EU registered pelagic freezer trawlers inside the Irish EEZ over the period April-June, 2026; the monitoring and inspections of these vessels that has taken place over the same period April-June; and if he will provide information on the reported landings made by these vessels including any bycatch of boarfish. [49245/26]

The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, all operational matters concerning sea fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. Under the Act, I am expressly precluded from getting involved in operational matters in relation to sea fisheries control.

Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's queries to the SFPA for direct response.