Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
767. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a list of existing Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas where bottom trawling has been excluded, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71461/25]
View answerAs Minister of State for Fisheries, I am responsible for ensuring that sea-fishing and aquaculture activities are conducted in a manner that avoids the deterioration of designated features of Natura 2000 conservation sites or the significant disturbance of protected species within those sites. The fishing sector in particular is highly dependent on a healthy marine environment, and its own environmental impacts, where relevant, need to be managed in an appropriate manner.
The majority of the marine Natura 2000 sites in Ireland are inshore, within six nautical miles. It is important to note that Natura 2000 sites can include a variety of habitats and species, each with varying sensitivities and in respect of introducing measures to manage sea-fisheries, regard must be had to the specific conservation objectives set out for each habitat and species within those sites.
I provide below in tabular form a list of the existing Natura 2000 sites (Special Areas of Conservation or Special Protection Areas) where bottom trawling has been restricted.
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List of existing Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas where bottom trawling has been either partially or wholly restricted |
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NW Porcupine Bank Canyon SAC |
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Belgica mound province SAC |
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Hovland mound Province SAC |
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SW Porcupine Bank SAC |
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Porcupine Bank canyon SAC |
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Southern canyons SAC |
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Dundalk Bay SAC |
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Dundalk Bay SPA |
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Roaringwater Bay |
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Hook Head SAC |
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Saltee Is SAC |
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A series of appropriate assessments and risk assessments have been undertaken by my Department in conjunction with the Marine Institute over the years with regard to sea-fishing activities in or near Natura 2000 sites. Mitigation measures have been introduced to manage the potential risks posed to the sites in question. The Deputy may wish to refer to the Fisheries Natura Declarations published online at: gov.ie - Inshore Fisheries Management (www.gov.ie) for further information.
