S.I. No. 167/1976 - Industrial Fishing For Mackerel (Minimum Size) Order, 1976.

S.I. No. 167 of 1976.

INDUSTRIAL FISHING FOR MACKEREL (MINIMUM SIZE) ORDER, 1976.

I, MICHAEL PAT MURPHY, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, being satisfied, having regard to the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Convention signed in London on the 24th day of January, 1959, that it is necessary to do so, hereby, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 35 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1962 (No. 31 of 1962), and the Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1965 ( S.I. No. 83 of 1965 ) (as adapted by the Agriculture (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1965 ( S.I. No. 146 of 1965 )) and the Fisheries (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order, 1973 ( S.I. No. 93 of 1973 ), order as follows:

1. (1) This Order may be cited as the Industrial Fishing for Mackerel (Minimum Size) Order, 1976.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on the 15th day of August, 1976.

2. (1) Subject to subarticle (2) of this Article, fishing by any means for mackerel of a size smaller than 30 centimetres (measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin) and intended for a purpose other than human consumption or bait is prohibited in the waters specified in the Schedule to this Order.

(2) Notwithstanding subarticle (1) of this Article, a landing of mackerel intended for a purpose other than human consumption or bait may consist, as to not more than 20 per cent by weight, of mackerel of a size smaller than 30 centimetres so measured.

SCHEDULE.

( a ) International Council for the Exploration of the Sea statistical area IIIa:

The area of sea bounded by a line drawn south from a point on the coast of Norway at 7° E. longitude to 57° 30' N. latitude, thence due east to 8° E. longitude, thence due south to 57° N. latitude, thence due east to the coast of Denmark, thence in a northerly and easterly direction along the coast of Denmark to the Skaw, thence south to Hasenore Head, thence to Gniben Point, thence in an easterly direction along the coast to Gilbierg Head, thence to the The Kullen in Sweden, thence in a northerly direction along the coasts of Sweden and Norway to 7° E. longitude.

( b ) International Council for the Exploration of the Sea statistical area IV:

The area of sea bounded by a line drawn from a point on the coast of Scotland at 4° W. longitude, thence due north to 62° N. latitude, thence due east to the coast of Norway, thence in a southerly direction along the west coast of Norway to 7° E. longitude, thence due south to 57° 30' N. latitude, thence due east to 6° E. longitude, thence due south to 57° N. latitude, thence due east to the coast of Denmark, thence in a westerly direction along the coasts of Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium and France to 51° N. latitude, thence due west to the coast of England, thence in a northerly direction along the east coast of England and Scotland to the point of origin.

( c ) International Council for the Exploration of the Sea statistical area VIa:

All those waters which are situated within those parts of the Atlantic Ocean and its dependent seas and are bounded on the west by the meridian of 12° west longitude, on the north by a line running from a point 60° north latitude, 12° west longitude due east to the meridian of 5° west longitude, thence due north to the parallel of 60° 30' north latitude, thence due east to a point 60° 30' north latitude, 4° west latitude, in the east by the meridian of 4° west longitude and in the south by the parallel of 54° 30' north, but excluding the Irish Sea south of the parallel of 55° north.

GIVEN under my hand this 28th day of July, 1976.

MICHAEL PAT MURPHY,

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister

for Agriculture and Fisheries.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

This Order, which implements a recommendation of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission prohibits fishing for mackerel less than 30 cm in length for purposes other than human consumption or bait in the North Sea and to the North and North-West of Ireland and the West of Scotland with the proviso that any landing of mackerel other than for human consumption or bait from the waters in question may consist of up to 20% by weight of such undersized mackerel.