Dan Wallace
Question:40 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for the Marine the steps, if any, he is taking to protect the national fish stocks; and the total expenditure involved in this regard in 1995. [5174/96]
Written Answers. - Fish Stock Protection.
I am fully committed to securing the protection of fish stocks in Irish waters.
Essentially my objective is to ensure that the national fisheries protection capability is deployed as efficiently and effectively as possible and to secure maximum EU financial support for additional capital and operational resources identified as necessary to maximise our surveillance programmes at sea and on land. In addition to maintaining and enhancing the stringent controls on all fishing activity in Irish waters I am continuing to press for a much closer scrutiny of the fishing activities of all EU fishing vessels by the Commission and for a demonstrable commitment from other member states to fully monitor and enforce the rules. Tighter controls and enforcement backed up by the necessary resources together with soundly based fisheries management strategies are the key to securing the future viability of stocks.