Vol. 512 No. 7
90 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if by-law No. 756 is to be renewed; if he has had further meetings with salmon angling clubs to discuss this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27247/99]
By-law No. 756 prohibits the use of prawn, shrimp or any other crustacean and artificial forms thereof as bait in angling for fish with rod and line in any waters from 15 April 1999 to 31 May 1999 and from 1 January to 31 May in the years 2000 and 2001, respectively. As it stands the by-law will remain in force until 2001 and is not required to be renewed before this date.
The by-law is one of a number of conservation measures currently in force in order to protect the stocks of wild salmon. Conservation measures generally have been covered in recent discussions between officials of my Department and the angling representative organisations.
For the information of the Deputy, the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas, provides for the establishment on a statutory basis of the National Salmon Commission to assist and advise the Minister on the conservation, management, protection and development of the national salmon resource. All the stakeholders, including the angling representative organisations, will be represented on the commission.
