Vol. 265 No. 4
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will examine the method by which the Board of Conservators selected fishermen for the granting of licences in view of the financial loss sustained by the County Waterford salmon net fishermen who were refused licences to continue to net salmon this season; and if he will ensure that all genuine fishermen are granted licences.
158.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he is aware that the method of issuing draft net salmon fishing licences in Waterford has resulted in a number of bona fide fishermen being deprived of the right to fish for salmon in the current season; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
159.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries whether he intends to increase the number of salmon licences along the Mayo coast.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 158 and 159 together.
I have reviewed the distribution of salmon net licences as issued under the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, 1972, and I am satisfied that the existing order has proved to be unduly restrictive on some persons who entered salmon fishing in recent years. Accordingly, I have made a further order widening the range of eligibility for salmon net licences in 1973. The effect of this amendment order will be to ensure the issue of salmon net licences to the greatest extent practicable to persons who depend mainly on fishing for their livelihood.
Could I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if the Board of Conservators were not required by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries when dealing with this matter of issuing licences to bear in mind the very important factor of the livings of the people involved? Is the Parliamentary Secretary not further aware that in the last three or four years the increase in the number of drift net licences which were being issued had got out of control and that licences were being issued to people with other means of livelihood and that stocks of fish were, therefore, being threatened?
The Deputy will appreciate that this order merely states that licences will only be issued to people who held a salmon licence in any one of the years, 1968 to 1972, and who derive their livelihood mainly from fishing. The type of person the Deputy has in mind will not get licences under this order.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not accept that if the people who are not fishermen cease to get fishing licences there must be a diminution of licences and this was the purpose of the order in the first place?
This order provides for including persons who are fishermen, but who had had that salmon fishing licence for three of the past five years and were unable to fulfil the conditions laid down by the Control of Salmon Fishing Order, 1972. I eased the conditions to ensure that that class of person would now be included.
