Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2025
724. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the assessment that has been made of the environmental impact of razor shell dredging off Portmarnock beach, including the displacement of marine life and the effect on beach conditions and public amenity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54965/25]
View answer737. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any area off Portmarnock beach is officially licensed for razor shell fishing; the enforcement measures in place to address reports of unlicensed vessels operating in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54963/25]
View answer738. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of unlicensed vessels partaking in unauthorised razor shell fishing off Portmarnock beach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54964/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 724, 737 and 738 together.
I am advised that the Malahide classified production area (CPA), which extends to an area off the coast of Malahide and Portmarnock, is one of four production areas in the north Irish Sea classified for razor clam fishing. Razor clam can only be harvested from areas that the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) has designated as CPAs. The SFPA is Ireland's competent authority for the classification of live bivalve mollusc production areas, and it provides a list of the various CPAs located around the coast on its website (www.sfpa.ie).
Sea-fishing boats registered in the polyvalent and specific segments are generally eligible to fish for razor clam, within the relevant CPAs and in accordance with current legislation. The Register of Sea Fishing Boats is publicly available online at: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/5907a-sea-fisheries-administration/.
Razor clam fishing in the north Irish Sea is managed in line with scientific advice provided by the Marine Institute regarding the status of razor clam stocks and potential impacts of fishing activities on the environment.
There are several regulations in place to manage the sustainable fishing of razor clam, including S.I. No. 160 of 2018, S.I. No. 588 of 2015, S.I. No. 207 of 2015 and S.I. No. 206 of 2015. These instruments give legal effect to management measures for the fishery, including reporting requirements, a minimum landing size, a weekly landing limit and a limit on the days that fishing can take place.
The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are law enforcement matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, all operational issues of this nature are exclusively for the SFPA and the Naval Service. I am expressly precluded from getting involved in such operational matters.
Any person who has concerns about whether or not a sea-fishing activity is compliant with sea-fisheries legislation should contact the SFPA. The contact details for the SFPA are available on its website.
