Coveney Welcomes Proposed Sea Bass Fishing Ban In Irish Waters
4th June 2015
Ireland’s strict measures protecting Sea Bass in its waters looks set to be extended as the EU Commission has just set out a proposal to ban all EU vessels from fishing Sea Bass in the Irish & Celtic Seas.
Irish vessels have been banned from catching Sea bass for a number of years and have gone to great lengths to avoid catching them, but other European fishing vessels that regularly fished alongside Irish boats have until now been in a position to actively target them.
Proposed Sea Bass Fishing Ban In Irish Waters
Minister Simon Coveney welcomed the EU Commission proposal for a comprehensive prohibition on commercial fishing for Sea bass in the Irish & Celtic Seas which underpins the conservation actions already taken by Ireland.
Minister Coveney said, “Ireland has had stringent measures in place for the protection of Sea bass, a very important angling species, for a long number of years. However, those measures only applied to Irish vessels. I have been very active over the past six months, lobbying the EU Commission and relevant Member States, on this issue. I am delighted that the EU finally recognises the lead taken by Ireland by extending our ban on commercial fishing to all EU vessels operating in the waters around Ireland.”
He added, “The scientific advice for Sea bass is very worrying and we must all do our utmost to protect this stock. Ireland has been to the forefront in being the only EU Member State to afford maximum protection to this stock and today’s proposal will enhance that protection by making the Irish model obligatory for all EU vessels in the Irish & Celtic Seas.”
Once the measures are approved by the Council of Ministers, all commercial fishing for Sea bass will be prohibited in the waters around Ireland.
Ireland’s strict measures protecting Sea Bass in its waters looks set to be extended as the EU Commission has just set out a proposal to ban all EU vessels from fishing Sea Bass in the Irish & Celtic Seas. Irish vessels have been banned from catching Sea bass for a number of years and have gone to great lengths to avoid catching them, but other European fishing vessels that regularly fished alongside Irish boats have until now been in a position to actively target them.
Proposed Sea Bass Fishing Ban In Irish Waters
