asked the Minister for Fisheries the total number of miles of river and lake or their area which are held privately and to which access by the general public is refused for amenity or fishing purposes; the location and ownership in each case; and his attitude to bringing these amenities into public use.
Written Answers. - River and Lake Ownership.
266.
Details are not available in my Department as to the location and ownership of privately held fisheries to which access by the general public is refused for amenity or fishing purposes.
In legislation which I hope to introduce early next year provision is being made to enable private fisheries and rights of access to be acquired subject to a right of appeal by the owner and payment of reasonable compensation. It is not intended that there will be global acquisition of all privately owned fisheries but that the power will be utilised in appropriate cases where the fishery is required in the interest of better management of inland fisheries. Acquisition of private fisheries on a voluntary basis will also be considered.