Irish Conservation Box

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The Irish Conservation Box (ICB) or Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA)[1] is a Marine Protected Area stretching along the southwest coast of Ireland. The ICB was defined based on advice from marine biologists,[2] and following review by European Union fisheries ministers of the Common Fisheries Policy, as a means to safeguard the "biological sensitivity and commercial importance" of the waters around Ireland.

Outline of ICB (in blue) relative to the Irish coastline

Location[]

Extended from Irish territorial waters, and comprising an area of more than 100,000 km², the ICB stretches from Waterford Harbour to Slyne Head, and follows the 200 metre bathymetric contour line along its western side.[3]

Fishing by certain vessels and vessel types is restricted in this area,[4] and vessels over 10 metres long are required to report their catch and movements to the ' patrol. The Irish Naval Service is tasked with enforcing the special protection measures.[5]

Background[]

The Irish Conservation Box replaces a previous protection zone - known as "the Irish Box" - which was a larger rectangular 50-mile zone[2][6] around the whole coast of the island of Ireland and included waters reaching to the western coasts of Scotland, England and Wales.[3][7]

Under the (original) Irish box mandate, important spawning and nursery areas for many stocks were protected by - for example - limiting fishing in the zone to no more than 40 foreign vessels at any one time.[8]

Because of common and "free-movement" policies of the EU, certain countries expected access to the zone in the long-term. As a result, there was ongoing lobbying by Spanish and Portuguese politicians of the Committee on Fisheries to remove the limits, and it was effectively abolished in late 2002.

As part of a 2003 review of the Common Fisheries Policy, and after intense negotiations on a proposal by the then Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources,[9] the Fisheries Council accepted the position that protection of biologically sensitive areas was critical to a conservation policy.

The renewed Irish Conservation Box regulations came into force in 2004.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Marine Institute of Ireland Booklet - Biologically Sensitive Area" (PDF). Maritime Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Press Release - Marine Institute welcomes EU decision on new Irish Conservation Box". Marine Institute. 14 October 2003. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, Environmental Research Institute" (PDF). Workpackage 10. p. 33. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Statute Book - Crab (Fisheries Management and Conservation) (No. 2) Regulations 2005". IrishStatueBook.ie. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  5. ^ "Roles of the Naval Service - Fishery Protection". Irish Naval Service website. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Conservation area to replace Irish Box". Irish Times. 14 October 2003. Archived from the original on 13 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Beaufort EAFM: Outputs - Case Studies - Biologically Sensitive Area". Beaufort Marine Research Award project. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  8. ^ da Conceição-Heldt, Eugénia (2004). The Common Fisheries Policy in the European Union: A Study in Integrative and Distributive Bargaining. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-94902-6.
  9. ^ "Press Release - Ministers Agree Cap on Fishing Effort For New Irish Box". Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. 21 June 2004. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
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