S.I. No. 423/1992:

MONKFISH (RESTRICTION ON FISHING) ORDER, 1992.

MONKFISH (RESTRICTION ON FISHING) ORDER, 1992.

I, MICHAEL WOODS, Minister for the Marine, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 223A (inserted by section 9 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1978 (No. 18 of 1978), and amended by section 4 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1983 (No. 27 of 1983)) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 (No. 14 of 1959), and the Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1977 ( S.I. No. 30 of 1977 ) (as adapted by the Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1987 ( S.I. No. 82 of 1987 )), hereby order as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Monkfish (Restriction on Fishing) Order, 1992 and shall come into operation on the 4th day of January, 1993.

2. (1) In this Order--

"the specified area" means the parts of the sea described in the Annex to the Communication and therein referred to as ICES sub-areas VII, XIV (including Sub-area VIIa) (EC Zone);

"monkfish" means Loplius Piscatorius

"length", in relation to a boat, means the distance from the forepart of the stem of the boat to the aft side of the head of the sternpost of the boat or to the foreside of the rudder stock.

"fishing period" means seven consecutive days commencing at 00.01 hours on the 4th day of January, 1993 or any such period of seven days thereafter.

(2) In this Article

"the Communication" means the Communication (85/C347/05) from the Commission of the European Communities on the description of the ICES sub-areas and divisions used for the purpose of fishing statistics and regulations in the north-east Atlantic⁽¹⁾;

⁽¹⁾ O. J. C.347/14 of 31/12/85.

"ICES" means the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

(3) In any proceedings in which a contravention of this Order is alleged prima facie evidence of the Communication may be given by the production of a copy of the Official Journal purporting to contain the Communication.

3. (1) From the 4th day of January, 1993, an Irish sea-fishing boat fishing in the specified area shall not have or retain on board more than .5 tonne of monkfish during any fishing period nor land more than that quantity during any such period.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-paragraph (1) of this Article, from the 4th day of January, 1993, an Irish sea-fishing boat of length greater than or equal to 55 feet and fishing in the specified area by means of longlines or by means of Scottish fly seines shall not have or retain on board more than 1 tonne of monkfish during any fishing period nor land more than that quantity of monkfish during any such period.

4. From the 4th day of January, 1993, the master or other person for the time being in charge of an Irish sea fishing boat shall not cause or permit such boat to be used in the specified area for the transhipment of monkfish or cause or permit such boat to engage in transhipment operations at sea.

5. (1) The master or other person for the time being in charge of an Irish sea-fishing boat shall, prior to the commencement of each voyage, inform a Sea Fisheries Protection Officer of the expected port at which the licensed vessel shall land monkfish on completion of that voyage.

(2) The master or other person for the time being in charge of an Irish sea-fishing boat shall not land monkfish at any port or place unless, on each occasion a Sea Fisheries Protection Officer has given prior approval of such landing.

6. In a prosecution for an offence under Article 3 or 4 of this Order, the following shall be prima facie evidence that the sea-fishing boat concerned was, at the time of the alleged offence, used for the landing or transhipment of monkfish in contravention of the said Article 3 or 4;

( a ) evidence that such sea-fishing boat had on board any books, papers or other documents from which it appears to the court that on the day on which the offence is alleged to have been committed monkfish were landed or transhipped contrary to the said Article 3 or 4;

( b ) any admission by any person who is for the time being the master or other person in charge, or another member of the crew, of such sea-fishing boat that at such time she was so used;

( c ) any other matter from which it so appears that such sea-fishing boat was so used or which in the opinion of the court suggests, or tends to suggest, that such sea-fishing boat was so used.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 23rd day of December, 1992.

MICHAEL WOODS, T.D.,

Minister for the Marine.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

This Order provides for a new management regime for the monkfish fishery with effect from the 4th day of January, 1993.

From that date, Irish sea-fishing boats equal to or greater than 55 feet in length and fishing by means of longlines or Scottish fly seines may not have on board or land more than 1 tonne of monkfish during any fishing period of one week (seven days with effect from the 4th of January, 1993 and each period of seven days thereafter). All other Irish sea-fishing boats fishing for monkfish by any other method regardless of length, may not have on board or land more than .5 tonne of monkfish during any such period of one week.

It is prohibited to tranship or to engage in transhipment operations of monkfish with effect from the 4th day of January, 1993.