Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Michael Healy-Rae.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
his plans regarding crawfish (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [8466/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): In order to protect
the reproductive potential of the crawfish stock, Council Regulation No. 850/98 sets a minimum
landing size of 95mm. The Regulation allows Member States to take measures for the conservation
and management of stocks that go beyond the minimum requirements set by the
Regulation. When the minimum landing size for crawfish specified in the Regulation was
reduced in 2001 in an amending Regulation from 110mm to 95mm, this reduced size was considered
by Ireland to offer inadequate protection to the reproductive potential of the stock.
There were industry calls at the time for the higher minimum size to be restored in national
law and this was done.
In June 2011, I asked BIM to carry out a review of the technical conservation measures
(TCMs) currently in place for the crawfish stock. The review was to be conducted in conjunction
with the Marine Institute and in consultation with crawfish fishermen and their representatives.
In the terms of reference for that review, I specified that the review should have regard to
the negative and declining state of the crawfish stock, undesirable by-catch of non-target and
possibly protected species from the use of nets by some fishermen in fishing for crawfish, the
apparent market preference for smaller crawfish and the range of TCMs for crawfish used
internationally. I asked BIM, in framing its recommendations, to ensure that its proposals
provided at least the equivalent or a higher level of protection to the reproductive potential of
the stock, as provided by the present measures, and that a high level of compliance would be
assured within available resources.
I received a draft report from BIM last month and I am expecting the final report in the
near future. I intend to publish the report shortly and will make arrangements for a copy to be
sent to the Deputy.
I do not accept that Ireland’s minimum landing size is in any way anti competitive or discriminatory.
While the minimum landing size for crawfish specified in EU Regulations is 95mm, it
should be noted that there is a wide range of different minimum landing sizes in force across
Europe. Each Member State must take account of the characteristics of its own stock, including
varying factors such as age at maturity. In those circumstances harmonised arrangements are
not always practical or desirable.
Grant Payments
595. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when
a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their REP scheme 4 payment; and if
he will make a statement on the matter. [8478/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The person named
commenced REPS in January 2010 and received payments for the first year of their contract.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a
comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification
System, has to be completed before any payment can issue in respect of 2011. Following an
inspection, a discrepancy was discovered in respect of one parcel of land that requires digitisation
and verification of its area. This is currently being done with the intention of an early
resolution and to enable payment in respect of 2011 to issue.
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