Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 5

Written Answers. - Fisheries Division and Sale.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

151 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for the Marine the plans, if any, there are to break rivers into sections which can be sold off through tour operators to anglers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11829/96]

Minister for the Marine (Mr. Barrett)

The Deputy will appreciate that the majority of fisheries are either privately owned or without proper title and that only a small number of fisheries are under State ownership.

The vast majority of State fisheries are managed by the central and regional fisheries boards which are independent statutory bodies charged with responsibility for the protection, conservation, development and improvement of fisheries in general. Many of these State fisheries are leased, mainly to angling clubs, following public tender. These licences provide, among other matters, that angling be made available to local and visiting anglers at reasonable rates.

The division of fisheries into sections, known as beats, is an internationally established practice designed to both afford comfortable and uncrowded fishing to the angler and to exploit fish stocks on a rational basis consistent with conservation requirements. Such a system is operating on many fisheries managed directly, or leased, by the fisheries boards.

I can assure the Deputy that there are no plans at present to sell off those State fisheries which are owned by the fisheries boards. The other State agencies, such as the Office of Public Works, ESB, Coillte, etc., in whom the ownership of certain fisheries is vested keep my Department and the fisheries boards informed of developments in relation to the management of their fisheries. There are no indications at present that these agencies propose to sell off these fisheries. The Central Fisheries Board is, however, reviewing its policy in relation to the management of these fisheries.