Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 1991

Vol. 414 No. 4

Written Answers. - Salmon Catches.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

17 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Marine if he has considered requests to transfer the management of the Moy Salmon Fishery in County Mayo to the North-Western Regional Fisheries Board; if his attention has been drawn to the support for such a transfer from the Ireland West Regional Tourism Organisation and other local and regional bodies; the number of salmon taken commercially by the State from this fishery by trap and net in each of the last three fishing seasons and the commercial value per fish of this operation; the numbers directly employed, full time and part time on the fishery by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Wilson)

I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 34, 36 and 40 on 10 July 1991, to Question No. 75 on 23 October 1991, and to Questions Nos. 45 and 48 on 6 November 1991. These replies deal with most of the issues raised by the Deputy.

While the question of the transfer of the management of the Moy Fishery to the North-Western Regional Fisheries has been raised with me from time to time by a number of bodies I have had no specific request from the Ireland West Regional Tourism Organisation. On this issue I would refer the Deputy to my reply of 6 November 1991, in which I stated that a group was established earlier this year to consider the future management and development of the Moy fishery and the system as a whole. I do not wish to pre-empt the report of the group in this matter and this being so, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to make a comment at this stage.

I would add, however, that I am satisfied with my Department's management of the Moy Fishery to date and the development/conservation measures introduced by them. Furthermore, I would like to point out that the State purchased the Moy Fishery at a considerable cost to the taxpayer and the State has a responsibility to ensure that this investment is recouped. In this regard I have no end of offers to take over the fishery from my Department, but on a free gratis basis. Similarly I have no end of suggestions that my Department should reduce the commercial catch and thereby its income from the fishery to the benefit of other owners in the catchment. I must stress, however, that a key element of any transfer of management for this fishery or changes in the commercial fishery will have to be the securing of adequate financial return for the State on its investment.

My reply to Questions Nos. 34, 36 and 40 on 10 July 1991, gave information on (a) the number of salmon taken by trap and net since the State acquired the fishery up to 1990 and (b) the value of fish caught by the commercial operation in the same period. The total number of salmon taken by trap and net in 1991 is 13,049 and the income realised from this operation is £166,989.

The number of staff employed full-time is one, with a further four employed for up to ten months of the year. In the summer period of commercial fishing 18 persons were engaged on a temporary basis this year.