Donal Carey
Question:42 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Marine his views on whether the new system of licensing anglers through the co-operative system has been successful.
Written Answers. - Angling Share Certificates.
I am very encouraged by the initial take up of angling share certificates provided for under the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1991. Some 8,000 share certificates have already been issued.
Sales of the new angling certificates have topped £90,000 bringing a matching £90,000 into the trout and coarse fisheries development societies. Resources of the new angling co-operatives in 1992 will, therefore, exceed £180,000. These funds are earmarked for local development initiatives including restocking and improvement of facilities such as stands and access to rivers and lakes.
The performance this year is particularly welcome in that the individual societies were not fully up and running until the season was well under way. In this regard I must commend highly the trustees of the societies who on a voluntary basis put such a major effort into getting the societies off to a successful start. They have laid a secure basis for the new trustees who will be elected later this year to make greater progress in 1993. I also see the eight new co-operatives playing an important role in the successful implementation of the major programme of job creation on the basis of the angling resource which the Government have approved.