S.I. No. 270/2007 - Cockle (Fisheries Management and Conservation) Regulations, 2007

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 15th June, 2007.

I, JOHN BROWNE, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by Section 15 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 (No. 8 of 2006), and the Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) (No. 2) Order 2006 (No. 167 of 2006), hereby make the following regulations—

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Cockle (Fisheries Management and Conservation) Regulations 2007

2. These Regulations shall come into operation on 6th January 2007 and shall cease to have effect from 15th July 2007

3. In these Regulations — “Cockle” means Cerastoderma edule

4. Neither an Irish sea fishing boat nor a person on board an Irish sea fishing boat, nor any person using any other harvesting method shall fish or attempt to fish, have on board, retain in their possession, land or attempt to land cockles harvested by any means for sale in the following geographical area:

(i) within the geographical area of the Waterford Estuary up to the high water mark north of a straight line drawn between the following points—

— From Dunmore East on the west side of the Waterford Estuary latitude 52° 09' 13"N, longitude 6° 59' 40"W

— To Hook Head on the east side of the Waterford Estuary, latitude 52° 07' 25"N, longitude 6° 56' 14"W.

(ii) within the geographical area of Tramore Bay up to the high water mark north of a straight line drawn between the following points—

— From the east side of Tramore Bay latitude 52° 07' 41"N, longitude 7° 6' 30" W

— To the west side of Tramore Bay latitude 52° 08' 11"N, longitude 7° 10' 15" W

GIVEN under my hand,

11 June 2007

JOHN BROWNE.

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

The effect of this Regulation is to provide for an extension of the existing ban on the taking of Cockles by fishing boats or harvesting by any other means except by hand raking for private consumption (i.e. non commercial sale) in the specified area off the Louth coast from the date of effect of these regulations until the 15th July 2007 or until revoked by other regulations, whichever occurs first. This extension is sought as Fishery Management discussions are ongoing and in this situation it is recommended that an extension be put in place to facilitate a comprehensive fishery management plan.