:Irish Conservation Box
The Irish Conservation Box (ICB) or Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA){{cite web |url= http://www.marine.ie/NR/rdonlyres/87FB3436-8A22-437C-99C5-1A96F272B98D/0/Biologically_Sensitive_Area.pdf |title= Marine Institute of Ireland Booklet - Biologically Sensitive Area |publisher= Maritime Institute |accessdate= 7 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120304033550/http://www.marine.ie/NR/rdonlyres/87FB3436-8A22-437C-99C5-1A96F272B98D/0/Biologically_Sensitive_Area.pdf |archive-date= 4 March 2012 |url-status= dead }} is a Marine Protected Area stretching along the southwest coast of Ireland. The ICB was defined based on advice from marine biologists,{{cite web |url= https://www.marine.ie/home/aboutus/newsroom/PressReleaseArchive/2003/Pressreleasenewconservationbox.htm |title= Press Release - Marine Institute welcomes EU decision on new Irish Conservation Box |date= 14 October 2003 |publisher= Marine Institute |accessdate= 7 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141012132836/https://www.marine.ie/home/aboutus/newsroom/PressReleaseArchive/2003/Pressreleasenewconservationbox.htm |archive-date= 12 October 2014 |url-status= dead }} 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.
File:IrishConservationBoxOverviewMap.png coastline]]
Location
Extended from Irish territorial waters, and comprising an area of more than {{convert|100,000|km2|sqmi}}, the ICB stretches from Waterford Harbour to Slyne Head, and follows the {{convert|200|metre|fathom|adj=on}} bathymetric contour line along its western side.{{cite web |url= http://cmrc.ucc.ie/publications/reports/National_Synthesis.pdf |title= Coastal & Marine Resources Centre, Environmental Research Institute |work= Workpackage 10 |page= 33 |accessdate= 7 October 2014 |archive-date= 3 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165407/http://cmrc.ucc.ie/publications/reports/National_Synthesis.pdf |url-status= dead }}
Fishing by certain vessels and vessel types is restricted in this area,{{cite web|url= http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/si/0705.html |title= Statute Book - Crab (Fisheries Management and Conservation) (No. 2) Regulations 2005 |publisher=IrishStatueBook.ie |accessdate=7 October 2014}} and vessels over {{convert|10|metres|feet}} long are required to report their catch and movements to the Irish Fisheries' patrol. The Irish Naval Service is tasked with enforcing the special protection measures.{{cite web|url= http://www.military.ie/naval-service/organisation/roles-of-the-naval-service/ |publisher= Irish Naval Service website |title= Roles of the Naval Service - Fishery Protection |accessdate= 7 October 2014}}
Background
The Irish Conservation Box replaces a previous protection zone - known as "the Irish Box" - which was a larger rectangular 50-mile zone{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/conservation-area-to-replace-irish-box-1.383323 |publisher=Irish Times |date=14 October 2003 |title=Conservation area to replace Irish Box |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113003149/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/conservation-area-to-replace-irish-box-1.383323 |archivedate=13 November 2016 |url-status=dead }} around the whole coast of the island of Ireland and included waters reaching to the western coasts of Scotland, England and Wales.{{cite web|url=http://www.beaufort-eafm.eu/pages/CaseStudies/Biological.html|title=Beaufort EAFM: Outputs - Case Studies - Biologically Sensitive Area| publisher= Beaufort Marine Research Award project |accessdate=7 October 2014}}
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.{{cite book | last=da Conceição-Heldt | first=Eugénia | title=The Common Fisheries Policy in the European Union: A Study in Integrative and Distributive Bargaining | year=2004 | publisher=Routledge | location=London | isbn=978-0-415-94902-6 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=RohmOtzBUQ8C}}
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,{{cite web |url= http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/exeres/F82E1752-FCD3-41F4-A458-DB2A87D31B68.htm |title= Press Release - Ministers Agree Cap on Fishing Effort For New Irish Box |publisher= Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources |date= 21 June 2004 |access-date= 8 September 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720001214/http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/exeres/F82E1752-FCD3-41F4-A458-DB2A87D31B68.htm |archive-date= 20 July 2011 |url-status= dead }} 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.