I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £129,220 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1959, for Salaries and Expenses in connection with Sea and Inland Fisheries, including sundry Grants-in-Aid.
The net total amount required for Fisheries is £193,820 of which £64,600 has already been provided in the Vote on Account. This represents an increase of £16,820 over the amount voted last year including £44,800 for which I introduced a Supplementary Estimate. Increased expenditure directed towards the development of national resources such as fisheries is, of course, to be welcomed.
Greater activity in the Fisheries Division is reflected in increased provision for salaries (sub-head A), travelling (sub-head B) and telephones (sub-head D). There is no change in the amount for incidental expenses (sub-head C).
Before referring to the financial provision required for sea fisheries I should like to sketch the statistical background. In 1957 the number of full-time fishermen was 1,613. The total fleet of motor vessels solely engaged in fishing was 469; of these 133 were in the category of 25 tons gross and over. During the year ended 31st March, 1958, six boats of 50 feet in length and four of 56½ feet were issued to hire-purchasers by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara and two of 56½ feet were allocated under the special Gaeltacht scheme. The preference of fishermen for the larger vessels is illustrated by the fact that only one new motor boat less than 45 feet in length has been issued on hire-purchase in the past four years.
Excluding salmon (to which I shall refer in connection with inland fisheries) the landings of wet sea fish totalled 532,000 cwt. in 1957, an increase of more than 150,000 cwt. or 41 per cent. over the previous year. The most remarkable development was the increased herring catches, particularly at Dunmore East, where landings doubled. The overall increase in herring landings was almost 100,000 cwt. and there were also substantial increases in the intake of haddock, whiting, mackerel and sprats.
The total value of wet fish landed went up from £787,000 in 1956 to £907,000 in 1957, an increase of 15 per cent. The total value of shell-fish, however, showed only a slight increase from £234,000 to £240,000.
The landings of shell-fish are to a large extent governed by demand on export markets and it is satisfactory to note that, in spite of French import restrictions, there were increases in the catch of some varieties. Landings of oysters and Norway lobsters increased substantially. I might mention here that Norway lobsters—or Dublin Bay prawns as they are commonly called—occur in considerable concentration off the south coast in depths varying from about 12 to 40 fathoms. Those taken in the deeper water are of good quality and should find a ready market.
Exports of fresh fish increased in value by 144 per cent. from £91,000 in 1956 to £215,000 in 1957. Herrings alone accounted for almost £100,000 of the increase. The value of cured fish exports rose from £39,000 to £73,000. Exports of shell-fish went up in value from £312,000 to £330,000, or by 6 per cent.
The prospects for the sea fishing industry are encouraging. Not only is there considerable scope for expansion of the home market—our consumption of fish being one of the lowest in Europe—but a vast export market is available for the taking. The British import £33,000,000 worth of fish in all its forms a year. There is a world market for several varieties cured, canned or otherwise processed. The demand for herring alone is far above our capacity to supply. Our fresh fish is appreciated for its quality when properly graded, packed and iced.
Before going on to deal with more general matters I shall comment on the sub-heads for sea fisheries. There is little or no change in the relatively small sums under sub-heads E (1) to E (4).
Sub-head E (5) relates to the permanent commission established under the International Fisheries Convention, 1946, to which this country is a party. The contribution towards the expenses of this organisation has been increased but, as this year's meeting of the commission will be held in Dublin in November next, our delegates will not incur travelling expenses. The object of the organisation is the conservation of fisheries through the regulation of the meshes of fishing nets and the limitation of the size of the fish which may be retained. Fishermen should realise that in the long run it is in their own interest to see that conservation measures are observed. There have, however, been complaints of breaches of the Orders in force in relation to undersized fish and net meshes. I should like to take this opportunity of making it clear that these Orders must be enforced and that I will take a serious view of any breaches which come to my notice.
An exploratory fishing vessel (sub-head E (6)) is being designed by a naval architect and it is hoped to make substantial progress with its construction in the present year. A fundamental weakness of our industry is the lack of research. This vessel is a good beginning. But we shall need more than one and we will also want a shore fishery station and laboratory. We need in particular to study the movements of the herring and the plaice. I attach great importance to the work— including the hydrographic survey— to be undertaken by the exploratory vessel.
The details of the scheme for training fishermen as skippers were announced some time ago. We are setting up what is hoped will become a permanent nautical school at Galway with the enthusiastic help of the Town of Galway Vocational Education Committee. We have also adapted two of the offshore fishing vessels, operated by An Bord Iascaigh Mhara to accommodate four trainees on each. We hope to be able to put about 16 trainees through the course each year. It is rather disappointing, however, that, even though the course was widely advertised and generous terms of pay and away-from-home allowances offered, only 24 applicants attended for interview. The first eight have been called for training. It is hoped that trainees who complete the practical and theoretical courses will qualify for certificates of competency in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Acts and will form a nucleus of highly-skilled skippers. Such men are urgently needed in the development of the fishing industry.
While on the subject of training I might mention here (although the financial provision is made under sub-head H) that an Icelandic master fisherman has recently arrived in this country and is engaged in demonstrating modern fishing methods and techniques. This should be of considerable benefit to our present fishermen.
Sub-head G provides for the grant to An Bord Iascaigh Mhara in aid of administration and development. While this year's grant of £71,000 shows a reduction of some £9,000, it is some £20,000 higher than last year's original provision which was supplemented at my request. The amount included for administration this year is £39,095 which shows an increase of £6,465 to cover normal salary increments, the salaries of some additional staff, the cost of improving the head office premises and miscellaneous items. The grant contribution required towards development work, such as the provision of ice plants and fish handling premises, is £31,905. Further sums will of course, be available as repayable advances to the board from the Central Fund. The amount of these advances authorised for the current year is £186,000 including provision for boats and gear.
An Bord Iascaigh Mhara is, under the Sea Fisheries Act, 1952, charged with the development of the sea-fishing industry. The need for such a body arises from the fact that the industry is highly speculative, particularly on the catching side, and consequently does not readily attract private investment of capital. The board's position has been in many ways unique. It is not a co-operative organisation. It does not control the production of one specific item such as turf or sugar. It competes with the wholesale trade. A number of illusions exist about its activities which must be dispelled. It does not subsidise or support fish prices. It auctions fish and deducts the hire-purchase instalments from the proceeds. Its low profits or losses on auctioning sales and processing are not due to an element of direct subsidy of fish prices. Its marketing operations must be made economic. As a State body, however, its liberties are closely circumscribed and any effort on its part at a competitive drive for sales is resented and, indeed, frustrated.
I might at this point advert to the fact that the recently appointed members of the board are not representatives of ports but include specialists in fishing, the fish trade, and in packing, processing and advertising food products.
I am glad to say that an understanding has been reached between the board and the other auctioneers in regard to the handling of catches from hire-purchase boats. The board have agreed in principle to allow hire-purchasers to market their catches through approved auctioneers who undertake to give to the board a full return of the amounts realised. These arrangements are intended for a trial period of a year in the first instance and further details will be announced before they come into operation.
I have received assurances from private interests that they will make fresh efforts to develop home and export trade when the question of marketing the catches of hire-purchase boats is settled. I feel that this dispute has been preventing much needed capital investment in all branches of the industry.
I would like An Bord Iascaigh Mhara to spend State aid in trying out new markets, co-operating in developing and financing new exports, getting new areas of fishing activity established and in experimenting with new techniques in fishing and processing. The subsidy received by the board for processing plants is also a desirable element of State aid. The board should continue to auction fish and remain in a position to prevent any rigging of the market against the fishermen.
I am convinced that the operation of boats issued on hire-purchase is not completely satisfactory. In good weather conditions many boats are not fishing long enough to pay their hire-purchase charges although similar boats fishing in the same waters are able to discharge their obligations. It is also a regrettable fact that some hire-purchasers do not give proper attention to their boats and the valuable machinery with which they are equipped. The length of each individual voyage could be extended by many fishermen to their own profit. In this way our fish intake from the existing fleet could be substantially increased—possibly by some 20 per cent.
This question of catching power is the key to the development of the fishing industry. If existing markets are to be exploited additional boats of suitable size must be provided. Boats of not more than 56½ feet in length do not normally remain at sea in relatively bad weather when there is acute scarcity of fish on the market and prices run far too high. Much better results could be expected from boats of say, 72 feet in length. We are the only maritime nation without middle water trawlers and this state of affairs cannot continue. We must proceed to provide some larger boats which will successfully engage in fishing at greater distances from our coasts. Careful planning and market research have necessarily taken some time to get moving, but rapid progress is being made now.
The power of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara to finance hire-purchase is not limited to the smaller boats. Members of the fish trade might well consider-acquiring boats with the aid of the hire-purchase facilities and entering the catching side of the business on a larger scale.
Boats, particularly of the larger classes, immediately pose the question of suitable harbour facilities—another fundamental desideratum in the development of the fishing industry. It is safe to say that the majority of the piers and harbours which sprinkle the coastline were constructed for the convenience of the local people in much the same way as bog roads. None was ever developed as a fishery harbour. It now seems essential to develop a few of them specifically as fishery harbours with the necessary berthage, slips and shore installations including cold stores, freezing equipment, production of ice, reduction plants, etc. We have looked for guidance in this to F.A.O. and on their recommendation have employed a Swedish engineer of international repute to advise us on which harbours could best be developed in a large way as fishery harbours. He is at present in this country working on the problem. This does not mean that the other harbours should be abandoned; far from it. They should be maintained in reasonably good condition to serve local interests and fishermen who will, it is hoped, continue to contribute to local and national fish supplies. The Commissioners of Public Works are the State authority for harbour works and their engineering staff will have to be strengthened to cope with the expanded programme; they are taking the necessary steps to make engineers available to deal with this programme.
The expenses of the harbours consultant, whom I have just mentioned, and the Icelandic master fisherman, to whom I referred earlier, are being met from sub-head H which provides for technical assistance. Other projects under that sub-head include the engagement of an expert to review the present state of the sea-fishing industry with the object chiefly of developing it as an export industry, and visits abroad to study the possibilities of stimulating exports of fish. It will, therefore, be appreciated that every effort is being made to keep abreast of developments elsewhere. As indicated at sub-head I (9), part of the expenditure on technical assistance is to be recouped from the American Grant Counterpart Special Account.
When fish is landed in quantity for export it must be processed by quick freezing, canning or curing. This necessitates a number of handling stations around the coast. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara have already provided such stations at Killybegs, Galway and Schull, as well as ice plants at other points. I am glad to say that private enterprise is displaying an increasing interest in fish processing. In the last six months a number of quite large projects have emerged some of which I expect to come to fruition. The construction of a commercial fish-meal factory at Killybegs is already well advanced.
In the initial stages of the development of the sea-fishing industry it must be recognised that it will not always be practicable to achieve perfect timing in the provision of both catching power and processing outlets. Accordingly, the fact that there may at first be a shortage of supplies at a particular processing station should not give rise to pessimism about the future of the industry. Taking the long view the outlook is quite hopeful if all interests concerned, from fishermen to exporters, seriously tackle the problems facing them. They can, of course, at all times count on the fullest assistance from me and my Department. Grants from An Foras Tionscal and the Industrial Development Authority, which are available for fish processing projects, should help to overcome any extra costs of freight and marketing.
I should point out that agriculture and fisheries are becoming linked in a new way through the steady growth in the quick-freezing trade. Of 17 companies engaged in this new industry in Britain ten sell fish, meat and vegetables, and many produce pre-cooked dishes, turkey pie and the like. I invite all private firms here with deep freeze capacity to consider this type of trade which will continue to grow.
The number of lobster ponds and storage establishments has increased steadily and will result in greater exports. In addition to the fresh lobster market there is a demand for processed lobster and boiled deep frozen crab. At present crab is frequently thrown overboard. I hope that complaints of badly graded, poorly packed periwinkles and mussels will soon cease as better grading is undertaken.
Not half enough ice is used by fishermen: more ice must be used for the export and even the home trade. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara have installed ice plants at a number of fishing centres and are continuing this work. A new fishery officer is being appointed to advise fishermen on the handling, grading and presentation of their catches and to encourage wider use of ice. Prejudices against ice by retailers must be overcome.
In the case of the smaller fishing centres, I do not believe that the industry will survive here any more than in Scotland or in other places unless greater co-operative effort is made to market the fish—by the use of co-operatively owned transport if nothing else. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara does spend money on various marketing overhead expenses in assisting the smaller fishing centres. But co-operative working is becoming more essential. The lobster trade is a valuable aid in these areas. Smaller boats suitable for lobster fishing are, of course, available from An Bord Iascaigh Mhara on hire-purchase or credit sale terms.
Our present supplies of fish are irregular, the home demand is low and marketing inadequate. Because of these factors the retail price is averaged at a higher figure than in Britain. I should say that fish costs a good deal to distribute. Cod in the round paid for at 6d. per lb. in 1954 was retailed in Britain filleted at 1/10 per lb., the aggregate net profit at all levels being only 1d. per lb. after charging all costs and overhead expenses. The extra price paid here is the result of insufficient supplies and an inadequate marketing organisation. I congratulate the fish merchants who by their recent expansion of outlets are willing to take risks and particularly those who finance their own fishing vessels.
Our greatest immediate need in the fishing industry is for increasing numbers of competent fishermen. These men must like the sea for its own sake and have a taste for the adventurous living it provides. Indeed the mental outlook of our people as to the sea needs to be changed. This cannot be done overnight, but those in a position to reach the public ear should help to foster a love of the sea and publicise the challenge it offers to our people, the possibility of wresting from it a decent livelihood, and the chance it affords our young men of an interesting, dangerous but independent career. Our public must be awakened to the fact that jobs and livelihoods in one of the most productive industries are in the offing. We have not enough land to go round all who seek farms but we have sufficient coastline to accommodate many thousands. Belgium with a strip of coast merely 45 miles long harbours one of the biggest fishing fleets.
It would be a great pity if, through lack of interest on the part of our own people, we were forced to employ foreign fishermen to develop our fishing industry. But I must make it clear beyond all doubt that the supply of skippers to fishermen trained to fish in middle waters is an absolute prerequisite to development. For that reason I consider that if we cannot get Irish fishermen, we should employ others to begin with, now that we know markets are available. This would not be depriving our own people of employment: on the contrary, every man actively engaged in fishing would help to create employment in processing and distribution ashore. I have been told that in a developed fish industry up to 14 people are employed on shore for every one on a boat. It may be necessary to invite landings from foreign trawlers to secure adequate supplies of some fishery products for the export trade.
Deputies will be aware that, at the recent conference in Geneva on the Law of the Sea, we favoured proposals for extension of exclusive fishery limits. Unfortunately, none of these proposals attracted the necessary measure of support to secure its adoption. This situation has left us with a difficult task to pursue and it is too early to-make any pronouncement. Our actions at the conference imply a belief in the need for a change from our present restricted position but more than that I cannot say at present. It will be noted that other European States are taking time to review their position.
I referred earlier to the vast export market available. As an inducement to exporters a bulk transport scheme has been arranged under which fish is being exported to the Billingsgate Market at reduced sea and rail freight rates. This scheme has been in operation in the Dunmore East area since last December and its extension to other areas is being planned. I might also mention that direct landings of fish into Britain from Irish-owned vessels will become more attractive from the 1st January, 1959, when the duty of 10 per cent. at present applicable will be removed. The steady increase in the intake of wet sea fish from 188,000 cwt. in 1951 to 532,000 cwt. in 1957 is encouraging but is still far too slow for development of large-scale exports.
Progress in the development of the sea-fishing industry cannot easily be accelerated. Postulating its confinement to our own fishermen, progress must await their training and the acquisition of greater skill combined with a changed mental outlook on their part. Acceleration must be geared to the production of skippers and crews, to the output of vessels from our own boatyards, to the development of our harbours, and to the provision of processing factories. In the early stages other measures to increase catching power may be necessary. The marketing of fish is a complex business and the associated problems of training, catching power and processing require intensive study. The whole position is being carefully examined as I have already indicated.
On the Inland Fisheries side increases on various items as compared with 1957-58 total £9,283, while decreases total £7,135, leaving a net increase for this group of sub-heads of £2,148. The first item showing a significant change is sub-head F 1 (4)— Grants to Boards of Conservators, which has been reduced from £13,000 to £6,000. The latter sum will, I consider, be an adequate State contribution to conservators' incomes this year to supplement the yield of some £10,000 from the salmon export levy which is expected to accrue to the Salmon Conservancy Fund this year. I may add that since this levy was re-introduced in June, 1957, a sum of £5,000 has been issued from the fund in aid of statutory revenues of boards of conservators for fishery protection purposes.
Deputies have had before them recently the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill. The Bill provides for certain changes in the mechanism whereby funds are made available to boards of conservators for purposes of conservation and development of salmon fisheries. I should like to give an assurance here and now that every penny of the moneys realised from the salmon export levy and from increased salmon fishing licence duties will be used for the preservation and improvement of the salmon fisheries and for no other purpose.
When the rod licence fees revenue is credited to the Salmon Conservancy Fund in the next financial year, other things being equal, the revenue available for salmon development will be £80,000—an increase of £14,000 on the amount received in 1956-57.
This is the minimum required to administer an industry employing 5,000 persons, exporting over £500,000 worth of salmon and catering for 16,000 anglers between game fishing and coarse fishing. Officers of the Department are making a survey of all salmon rivers, particularly those where obstructions prevent salmon spawning, with a view to engineering works being carried out wherever these will be profitable.
The Minister for Finance will in future assist, I hope and believe, first in providing such extra subventions as may be necessary by way of grants for improvement works or advances to the Salmon Conservancy Fund for the same purpose. It may also be necessary to look to the Exchequer from time to time for grants required by boards of conservators owing to unforeseen circumstances.
We will be introducing a Consolidation Bill in the Senate bringing all fisheries legislation within the compass of one statute and will later introduce an amendment Bill making desirable changes in our inland fisheries legislation.
In the interval the officers of my Department are examining the administration of each board of conservators through friendly discussions with the staffs and committees so that necessary reorganisation can be effected and in this the varying conditions and equally the many diverse views on protection methods can provide an exchange of knowledge from which all can benefit.
I have noted with interest a recent move by the boards of conservators to set up a central standing committee to examine and advise on problems affecting fisheries generally. I hope that the work of the committee will prove fruitful in securing the more effective conservation and improvement of our fisheries.
At this stage may I repeat again— poaching can effectively prevent a growth in this industry, prevent greater employment so urgently needed in the country and may I point out that poaching is not an Irish sport, it is plain theft and no better and is universal?
I have not recommended any mitigation of fishery penalties and I have conveyed in full the views of the boards of conservators on poaching offences to the Minister for Justice who I believe will exercise his functions with a due appreciation of the position.
The only other significant change in this part of the Estimate is in the amount of the Grant-in-Aid to the Inland Fisheries Trust—sub-head F (6). This has been increased by £7,500 to £20,000 in 1958-59. The House is well aware of the invaluable work the trust is doing in rehabilitating the brown trout fisheries of the country. Already the trust has achieved a remarkable degree of success in its efforts and the work done is assisting in no small way in bringing fishing tourists to the country.
Brown trout stocks have increased very considerably in all waters in which the trust has been working.
On Corrib during the past two years some 15-20 miles of extra spawning ground had to be provided to accommodate the greatly increased runs of spawning fish in the winter. The spawning effort on the eastern side of the lake was the biggest in very many years.
Here are some mayfly catches made on Corrib:—
1956—2 rods in 4½ days took 82 trout weighing 162 lb.
1957—2 rods in 6 days took 84 trout weighing 113½ lb.
On Lough Conn under Arctic conditions early this season:—
Two anglers in 2½ days took 50 trout weighing about 57 lb.
On Lough Arrow the rod catch in 1957 was about treble what it was before full-scale trust operations were commenced in 1954. On Lough Sheelin wet fly fishing is now a common method of successful angling; previously the lake had the name of yielding fish only in the mayfly season. Trout stocks have increased and pike stocks have decreased to such an extent that hundreds of trout were taken in draft nets which were recently being hauled for pike, while relatively few pike were captured. Trout, so caught, were safely returned. Big spawning runs now take place into the tributary streams. When work started in Sheelin in 1951, these streams were almost empty of spawning fish. One stream in which trout were never previously seen to spawn had its own complement last winter.
I wish to take this opportunity of clearing up a misapprehension that seems to have been gaining ground of late—an idea that the ultimate objective of the Inland Fisheries Trust is nationalisation of the fisheries. This is a most harmful idea and one that if left uncorrected might alienate the sympathies of many who are attracted to the trust by the sterling worth of its labours to date. I must, therefore, emphasise that the trust has no compulsory powers of acquisition such as would be required for any effort at nationalisation, and that I do not propose to seek such powers either for myself as Minister or for the trust.
Angling can play a very important part in the development of our tourist trade, and last year a five year plan for the development of all forms of angling was inaugurated under the joint auspices of An Bord Fáilte and the Inland Fisheries Trust. In order to enable the trust to participate fully in the plan, its articles of association were amended and expanded to cover all forms of angling. It is pleasing to record that already the plan has helped to arouse a spirit of enthusiasm throughout the country and local development associations have sprung up in many areas. Game fishing, coarse fishing and sea angling are all receiving attention and indeed it may be said that it is only now the potential of sea fishing as a tourist attraction is being realised.
An interim report which I have received on the working of the five year plan shows that preliminary surveys of coarse fish waters have been made at 18 centres with a gratifying measure of local co-operation. In consequence stocking with bream, rudd or tench has been carried out on 14 waters. Fishing stands, jetties and the like, have been provided at some 60 sites on the Shannon and Erne systems. In co-operation with Department of Education and with certain vocational education committees successful boat building courses for woodwork teachers in the service of the committees were conducted. Sixty-nine boats constructed during the course have been issued to angling associations catering for coarse fish anglers. Next season scores of additional boats will be available as a result of boat building courses provided by the participating committees. In general the demand for boats is very heavy and I understand that some of the longer established builders have substantial waiting lists of orders.
Predator reduction work was carried out on ten waters, a number of fish passes was constructed and fry salvage operations carried out during the summer drought.
Sea angling groups were established in six centres and preliminary work was done towards establishment of a further six similar groups.
An information and publicity service was active and a number of visiting angling teams and fishing publicists were afforded facilities.
The contribution by Bord Fáilte to inland fisheries and sea angling development in the current year will be of the order of £39,000, an increase of approximately £12,000 compared with the previous year.
Apart from the joint activities just mentioned, Bord Fáilte has engaged in promotion of angling chiefly by encouraging sea angling competitions and by arranging for visiting teams of sea anglers and coarse fishermen.
The number of tourist anglers is quite evidently increasing steadily, and the board is gathering material for a central information service as to availability of accommodation in hotels, guest houses and private residences. Some of the returns which are required for a comprehensive survey have not yet come to hand, but reliable indications are that bookings for the current season have increased by 30 per cent. to 50 per cent. on last year in the coarse fishing areas. Accommodation for game fish visitors is also much in demand and during the recent mayfly season, despite the fact that the hatch was rather scattered, the hotels in many places were booked almost to full capacity.
Package tours for anglers would, I consider, play an important part in spreading visitors over as wide an area as possible. Local development associations are in favour of this development and preliminary arrangements for it are being made by the board with the expectation that such tours will be available in 1959.
This joint enterprise is one of the finest and most promising in the country.
All over Ireland anglers' associations and other local groups are voluntarily taking part in a great panoply of varied development works. The following are examples:— Assessing the fish potential, river flow, feeding potential and access to waters where the Inland Fisheries Trust hope to carry out a detailed survey, organising and scheduling accommodation for anglers, taking cookery courses, providing amusements, supplying boats, listing and standardising boat hireage charges, improving spawning beds and laying down fry and fingerlings.
Of the greatest importance will be contacts, not only those made by Bord Fáilte but also by the use of local brochures and advertising. Equally important are personal connections arranged by anglers' associations with regional groups of anglers in Great Britain, which have already yielded results in a number of areas.
This splendid work prompts me to appeal to all anglers' associations who could help, and who are not helping, to lend a hand particularly in advance of the Inland Fisheries Trust coming to their area. This tourist angling development provides a lead to the whole country's economic development. Even if the taxpayer had money to spare to provide large subventions, the planning of tourist development without securing local co-operation, local investment and local expenditure would be fatal.
Everything depends on whole communities led by the hoteliers, anglers and county councillors becoming expert in the craft of tourist development as are the Swiss, applying this knowledge so as to concentrate upon angling and their working with the Inland Fisheries Trust and Bord Fáilte. The reward will not come all at once but over a period of years.
May I take this opportunity of pleading for accuracy in providing information to visiting anglers and may I ask county councils to consider sympathetically the requests for access roads and for sewerage and water facilities in villages and towns where the second industry will be tourist angling?
The establishment by the Inland Fisheries Trust of a fish farm at Roscrea has shown that fish farming can be successfully carried on here. The main object of the Roscrea farm is of course to provide material for the stocking of waters throughout the country. I am glad to say that plans are already in hands for the establishment of a commercial fish farm by private enterprise. Fish farming in one small continental country has an export value of £2,500,000 a year and I believe that it can be the basis of a highly successful export industry here.
The general requisites for a commercial fish farm are suitable soil and water conditions in a river bank site which can be readily excavated and is not subject to flooding. For purposes of regular supply of food and also for provision of deep-freeze facilities reasonable proximity to a fish processing or meat processing factory is advisable. Where such facilities are available an initial capital investment of, say, £13,000 to £15,000 might be expected to yield an output valued at, say, £20,000 a year gross against which must be charged the cost of food, freezing, labour and general maintenance.
The provision of deep freeze facilities would of course add substantially to the initial outlay. When site conditions permit the initial installation can usually be extended at reduced unit cost. The extent of land required will, of course, vary with the topography of the area but taking the experience of the Roscrea Fish Farm as typical we may estimate that a planned capacity equivalent to £20,000 a year gross output would occupy three to four acres.
A small fish farm unit consisting of, say, four ponds for operation as a side line to ordinary farming would call for an outlay of some £200 on excavation of ponds and providing equipment. The yield from a successful unit of such size might be valued at £800 a year gross on the home market.
It must be recognised that the foregoing figures are intended to give merely a rough indication of the possibilities. Each enterprise would naturally have to be costed in detail by reference to the conditions affecting it. It is my intention to encourage the development of fish farming in every possible way.
As the House is aware, responsibility for the conservation and protection of the fisheries of the Foyle area has been entrusted to the Foyle Fisheries Commission, a body set up under the joint auspices of the Government here and in the Six Counties. The commission also administers on behalf of the two Governments a very valuable commercial fishery and I am pleased to record that as a result of its operations last year, a sum of £5,000 was paid over to each Government.
The opening of the Salmon Research Trust Laboratory on the Burrishoole River at Treanlaur, County Mayo, is worthy of mention. The laboratory is the first of its kind in this country set up for the purpose of investigating the life history and habits of this valuable fish. In passing, I should pay a tribute to Arthur Guinness, Son and Co. Ltd., for their part in the setting up of this trust and for their generous financial contributions.
In so far as time permits contact is maintained with the proceedings of international bodies which have a bearing on our inland fishery problems. Representatives from the Department, the Inland Fisheries Trust and the Salmon Research Trust attended a conference in London in November, 1957, organised by the Salmon and Trout Association on the subject of "Water and its Abstraction in Relation to Fisheries"—a subject of growing urgency in relation to our industrial development. An engineer of the Fisheries Division has been invited to contribute a paper on "Dams as barriers or deterrents to the migration of fish" at the General Assembly in Athens next September of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill also provides for the relaxation of certain restrictions imposed by the Fisheries Act of 1939 on eel fishing. It is my intention to give every help to the development of eel fishing. On the basis of the present export market available for eels, I am advised that double the current export value of £28,000 to £30,000 a year would be a reasonable initial target. An officer of my Department has just completed a tour of eel fisheries in Germany where he studied improved methods of capture and the technique of eel farming.
I must advert to the controversy which arose recently over the decision of the E.S.B. to develop the upper waters of the Shannon salmon fishery consequent upon the construction of the fish pass at Ardnacrusha. The following are clearly the main conditions affecting this tremendous body of waters, one-fifth of the Irish river and lake system. There are several types of anglers, game fish anglers, bream, rudd and tench anglers, anglers specialising in large pike and incidentally in other coarse fish, carp anglers and numbers who enjoy mixed fishing.
Bearing in mind the total tourist potential, it is possible to develop the Shannon as a salmon fishery and at the same time provide ample opportunities for all types of fishing particularly since only two of six common coarse fish species are predators. In conjunction with Bord Fáilte, the Inland Fisheries Trust and the E.S.B., I am working towards a means whereby all the interests may prosper and in this endeavour every opportunity for joint consultation will be taken. A decision on this problem will be soon forthcoming.
Steps are also being taken to enable fishery rehabilitation post arterial drainage to take place more rapidly. In this field voluntary work by angling associations will be essential.
Finally, I hope to arrange for closer co-ordination between my Department and State and semi-State bodies in relation to the preservation and development of inland fisheries where conflict of interest arises through drainage or other engineering operations.
