To ask the Minister for Fisheries if he is aware that seals and cormorants are causing enormous damage to the salmon fisheries in Waterford Harbour and adjacent inland fisheries; and if, in view of this, what measures the Minister will take to diminish the number of seals and cormorants. Further, if the Minister is aware that foreign trawlers of many nationalities are violating the fishing limits along the Waterford coast, particularly in the vicinity of Tramore, and if the Minister will see that the Helga or other vessel patrols this area.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. [ORAL ANSWERS.] - WATERFORD SALMON FISHERY. (DAMAGE BY SEALS AND CORMORANTS).
UINSEANN DE FAOITE
In reply to the first part of the question I may say I have already had reports of the damage caused by seals and cormorants in the area mentioned, and I have made a suggestion which has been favourably received by the Ministry of Defence, that a number of Army marksmen should be told off to arass these pests. I may add, however, that the seal and cormorant are both extremely wary, and that any local campaign against them heretofore has produced results wholly incommensurate with the expenditure of time and labour involved.
In reply to the second part of the question I have to say it is a fact that steam trawlers of different nationalities have seized the opportunity presented by the recent absence of the Fishery Patrol steamer to contravene our By-laws in the area off the Waterford coast. I am handing the Deputy some particulars of measures which are now being taken to counter this illegal activity on the part of the trawlers, and which I hope will speedily result in a very considerable diminution of it.