asked the Minister for Tourism, Fisheries and Forestry if he is aware of concern in the coarse fishing areas of Cavan and Leitrim that some lakes are being over-fished by foreign anglers who are preserving large quantities, particularly pike, by smoking and freezing and taking it back to their own countries; whether he has any machinery for monitoring the quantity and quality of fish in the lakes normally used by such anglers; and, if he has not already done so, if he will undertake a study of this problem.
Written Answers. - Over-Fishing by Foreign Anglers.
223.
I am aware of the concern being expressed about over-fishing of coarse fish, particularly pike. Following discussions which I have had with the Central Fisheries Board, I will shortly be making a by-law which will prescribe a strict limit on the number of pike which an angler may catch and retain in any one day. The by-law will also prescribe the maximum number of pike which any person may have in his possession at any time.
Monitoring of stocks of fish in lakes and rivers is carried out by the regional fisheries boards.