Dinny McGinley
Question:9 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine whether there are any plans to implement the recommendations of the Salmon Review Group report.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Salmon Review Group Report.
(Limerick West): The Salmon Review Group report was published in January 1988. The report covered all aspects of salmon fishing and made a number of major policy recommendations as well as putting forward a wide range of specific suggestions.
Submissions were invited from interested parties. In all 77 submissions were received. These revealed a lack of consensus on some of the central elements of the report's recommendations.
Examination of the report by the Department has also shown that implementation in many instances would require increased finance, other resources and, in respect of some of the main items, complex amending legislation. Nevertheless the report provides a useful framework for the development of policy on an ongoing basis.
While I have no plans to implement the report as a totality, important recommendatons contained in the report relating to pollution and protection have been and continue to be pursued. For example, significant progress has been made in tackling pollution issues. The introduction in July 1990 of the Water Pollution (Amendment) Act, 1990, by my colleague the Minister for the Environment, followed deliberations of a ministerial group which considered the problem of water pollution.
Fishery boards together with bodies such as Teagasc and local authorities were involved in a task force designed to increase public awareness of and to prevent pollution where possible. I am glad to be able to say that the agencies concerned have been successful in this regard.
The naval authorities have had available since 1989 two vessels which are ideally suited to salmon protection duties. I am glad to say that thanks to the co-operation between the Navy, the Garda and the regional fisheries boards, salmon patrols have been considerably more effective in recent years and that co-operation is continuing during the current season.
The Minister stated that the report was published in 1988. Probably the most important recommendation in the report was that salmon drift net fishermen should be allowed to use a limited amount of monofilament net. May I ask the Minister why that recommendation has not been implemented?
(Limerick West): I think I gave the Deputy an answer to that question previously. Consensus has not yet been reached on the use of monofilament nets; there are as many for it as there are against it. The matter is being considered on an ongoing basis and I do not see any prospect of change in the immediate future.
Is the Minister aware that the vast majority of that group were in favour of legalising the use of a limited amount of monofilament net? This week two salmon drift net fishermen from Youghal have been sentenced to long terms in prison for abiding by the recommendations of that group? Can he explain how this can be reconciled with the setting up of a Government group who recommended that these people should be allowed to use these fishing nets?
(Limerick West): As I have already indicated to the Deputy both now and on a previous occasion, consensus has not been reached in regard to a change in the rules of the use of monofilament nets. This issue is being considered on an ongoing basis. Even the group did not reach a unanimous decision on this issue. As I have said, I do not see any prospect of change in the rules in the immediate future.
There was only one dissenting voice. The vast majority of the group were in favour of changing the rules.
Is the Minister aware that the group said that, apart from the conservation implications, better control of catch would be to the advantage of smaller fishermen who are being progressively edged out in the evolving situation? The "evolving situation" refers to the total disregard by the larger trawlers for the ban on the use of monofilament nets. Is the Minister aware that each season fishermen do not know where they stand in regard to salmon catches and that those who do not abide by the law are reaping the reward in every sense?
Hear, hear.
(Limerick West): While I understand what the Deputy is saying, I should point out that there is another side to the story. There are other interests involved and it is a question of having a consensus of all the interests involved. If I can gain such a consensus, I will have a fresh look at the issue.
The problem is that there is no consensus.
It is three years——
While I have allowed some discretion in the matter. I would much prefer that separate questions were tabled in respect of the use of monofilament nets. Question No. 10, please.
It is the main recommendation of the report.
That may be, but it is a very distinct and separate matter.
(Limerick West): They made other recommendations also.