asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he is aware of the very considerable hardship caused to the fishermen, and damage accruing to the business interests and tourist potentiality, of the town of Castleconnell, County Limerick, resulting from the prohibition on trout fishing on the River Shannon adjacent to Castleconnell, imposed by the Electricity Supply Board; and, if so, if he will make representations to the Electricity Supply Board to have this prohibition removed or relaxed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shannon Trout Fishing.
The responsibility for the preservation, improvement and management of the Shannon Fisheries, as defined in the Shannon Fisheries Act, 1935, rests with the Electricity Supply Board, and I have, therefore, no function in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy.
Would the Minister not consider requesting the Electricity Supply Board to reconsider the whole position? Might I ask if the Minister has considered the hardship which has been caused to the town of Castleconnell, which was largely dependent on fishing, first of all, by local fishermen and as an attraction for tourist traffic in the summer season? In these circumstances, would he consider asking the Electricity Supply Board to reconsider the position?
The board's obligation under the Act is to preserve the salmon fisheries. As I understand it, the granting of facilities to trout anglers in the locality of Castleconnell, where there are important spawning beds, would prejudice the fulfilment of the board's major obligations. I am also aware that there is good trout fishing a few miles beyond Castleconnell, at Mulderrig and on the Mulcaire River.
There is a special river about a mile and a half long on which the board has prohibited trout fishing. Does the Minister consider that the board is acting fully within its competence by preventing trout fishing on the plea that it is preserving salmon fishing? There is no conflict between the two. Does the Minister not consider that the board might relax the prohibition of trout fishing:
I have no function in the matter, but the board considers that its present arrangements are the best in its own interests.
Might I suggest to the Minister that he would tell the board to transfer this trout fishery to the Inland Fisheries Trust, who could be depended upon to preserve the board's salmon interests most scrupulously and to develop the trout industry to the advantage of the nation as a whole?
I do not think that that would be practical. The fisheries on the river at Castleconnell are leased by the board.
The fishery?
The salmon fishery.
What about the trout fishery?
That is precisely the point; they could not interfere with one without interfering with the other.
One can fish perch and eels there, but one cannot fish trout for fear of catching a salmon by mistake.
The Minister is batting on a sticky wicket.
I do not profess to have any knowledge in this matter.
Where ignorance is bliss, it is folly to be wise.
The Deputy should know.