Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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980. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consultation that he has undertaken with inshore and island fishermen around the coast on the sustainability of the crab species; and if this includes a ban on the use of crab meat for whelk bait. [8256/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, I continue to consider the views and concerns of Irish fishers on an ongoing basis. Throughout 2021 I met with fishers, fishing organisations and other stakeholders when I undertook a series of visits to many of Ireland’s main fishing ports, including Killybegs, Inver, Leenan, Rathmullan, Greencastle, Howth, Kilmore Quay, Dunmore East, Union Hall, Castletownbere, Dingle, Fenit and Cromane.

I also meet regularly with Irish fishing representatives, such as the National Inshore Fisheries Forum (NIFF). At my meeting with the NIFF and the marine agencies in November 2021, we discussed issues important to the inshore sector, including the sustainability of the brown crab fishery. The Marine Institute presented the findings from its recent assessment of the brown crab stock and I discussed this with the NIFF members.

As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the Marine Institute is the statutory body whose function is, inter alia, to undertake sea-fisheries research, assess and advise on the sustainable management of marine fisheries resources in the waters around Ireland and on the impacts of fisheries on the ecosystem.

At our meeting, the NIFF advised me that it did not have proposals for any new brown crab management measures. There was no proposal for a ban on the use of crab meat for whelk bait. The NIFF members agreed to bring the findings of the Marine Institute’s assessment to the six Regional Inshore Fisheries Forums (RIFFs) for further consideration and to discuss ideas for possible management options for the brown crab fishery.

I have asked my Department and the Marine Institute to continue to work with the fishing sector on this issue. I would encourage fishers to bring suggestions for the management of brown crab to the attention of their local RIFF. Information regarding the Forums, including contact details, is available at the dedicated website, inshoreforums.ie/.