asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries what information he has on the volume of eels coming down the rivers Boyne, Glyde and Dee each year and on the feasibility of trapping eels in those rivers; and if further licences for traps will be issued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Eel Trapping.
35.
I have no information on the volume of eels coming down the rivers mentioned by the Deputy.
Catches of eels in the Drogheda and Dundalk fishery districts which include these rivers totalled 52,048 lb valued at £11,062 in the year 1969.
Investigations into the stocks of eels in the Boyne system have been carried out and my Department is also investigating stocks of eels in the country generally with a view to their further development and exploitation.
Under the provisions of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 persons interested in fishing for eels by means of new traps can apply to my Department for an authorisation to do so, after which it is necessary for them to apply to the appropriate board of conservators for a licence to use the traps in question.
Has the Parliamentary Secretary any breakdown of the figure of £11,062 as between the Rivers Boyne, Glyde, Dee and Fane? I want to confess an interest in this matter. That is the right thing to do if you are in the House.
No.
If the Parliamentary Secretary has not, that is all right.
I have no breakdown.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary indicate if he has any information that there is, in fact, any active investigation being carried out on the Glyde and Dee rivers in relation to the general investigation he has mentioned?
Yes.
There is an investigation?
Yes.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate when he considers the results of the investigation of the Glyde and Dee will be available to persons interested?
We have here the Fane, the Dee and the Glyde rivers. Would the three be of any use to the Deputy?
Two of them would be.
I have figures, taking the three together: 1969, in weight, 1,425 lb, value £3,083; 1968, 4,696 lb, value £1,030; 1967, 4,885 lb, value £642.
Is there any indication that the full potentialities of these rivers are being exploited?
No. As I said, this is something that is under constant review and it is being looked into in detail by the Commission on Inland Fisheries, at the present moment.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary say is it not true that only a limited number of eel traps are allowed on a particular river? Have not applications for trapping permission been refused to other people because of the fact that it would interfere with existing traps?
By boards of conservators?
Yes.
This could be so.
Yes, that could be so.