Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 1997

Vol. 474 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Draft Net Salmon Fishing.

Mr. O'Donoghue

For generations draft net fishermen in Cromane, along the Caragh River, the Laune River and the Maine River in County Kerry have finished for salmon from 17 January each year. This has been the case for hundreds of years. Normally, the licences for the season would issue to the fishermen a few days before the opening of the season. That did not happen this year and the fishermen say they were simply ignored. They were not told the season would not commence until 15 May 1997 until they made inquiries upon not having received their licences.

In the Cromane area approximately 100 fishermen and their families are almost entirely dependent on draft net salmon fishing for their livelihoods. This means approximately 500 people in the area are directly adversely affected by the Minister for the Marine's decision. Cromane, near Killorglin, is unique in that there are more draft net fishermen there than in any other part of the country. They are involved in inshore fishing. While there may be draft net fishing in other areas it would be minuscule in scale compared to that which takes place in Cromane from 17 January to the end of July each year.

The mid Kerry area is severely affected by this decision. The salmon season in the region is best during the period from 17 January to approximately 1 May. the Minister of State proposes that the season would last from 15 May to the end of July rather than 17 January to the end of July. In addition, the fishermen will only be allowed to fish four days a week — from 6 a.m. on Tuesday to 6 a.m. on Saturday. This means people dependent on draft net salmon fishing will only be allowed fish for 30 days in the year.

The effect of these proposals will be devastating for the families involved. They will have no alternative but to abandon fishing and give up a way of life which they and their forbears have carried on for generations. It can only mean economic deprivation and, ultimately, emigration. Suitable job opportunities in the area are limited and what vacancies there are would not be suited to those who have spent their lives at sea.

Allowing the draft net fishermen in south Kerry to earn their livelihoods as heretofore will not have significant adverse effects on conservation. The area concerned is unique in that draft net fishing is not just a tradition but a way of life — a crucial supplement which allows people to earn a sufficient amount to keep their families. The diminution in their earnings which is now proposed has the capacity to denude the areas concerned of their populations.

I accept that the Minister and Minister of State believe the conservation of salmon stocks is important. However, in the context of the unique situation of these draft net fishermen, the conservation of people is at stake. I call on the Minister of State to restore the livelihoods of the fishermen of Cromane, along the Caragh River, the Laune River and the Maine River. The Minister of State knows the area well having worked there in the past. I am also aware he would not intend that draft net fishermen, who are severely affected by this measure, would lose a crucial supplement to their livelihoods which, in effect, allows them to continue living in the areas where they were born. Without that crucial supplement, they will have no alternative but to leave their homes. I understand the need to conserve stocks. However, the conservation of people is of paramount importance.

Minister of State at the Department of the Marine (Mr. Gilmore)

I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to respond.

The new regulations for salmon conservation arise from the report of the Salmon Management Task Force. I established the Salmon Management Task Force in late 1995 because of concern about the serious decline in salmon stocks. The salmon catches in 1994 and 1995 were half what they were in 1985 and 1986 and the average catch in the years 1991 to 1995 was the lowest in value since 1964. It is clear we are dealing with a declining resource. That is one of the few views on salmon on which there is general agreement. I had come to the view that a fresh approach was needed to the management strategy for Irish salmon. The mandate of the task force was to develop practical proposals for the management of wild salmon stocks, with full regard for the interests of those with legitimate rights in salmon exploitation.

The task force undertook wide ranging consultation with all the relevant interests, holding six meetings at regional level, and received more than 230 submissions from the various sectors on the subject. Its report confirmed the need for a rebalance of the salmon catch between the various sectors and the need for a new approach to salmon management.

I received Government approval in September to progress the implementation of the main recommendations of the task force report, in consultation with the various interests in the fishery. This entails a package of measures designed to secure and augment salmon stocks, a move to management on a local catchment basis and the introduction of a quota system to ensure a fair share of the resource among the different legitimate interests. The explicit policy is to allow sufficient salmon upstream to spawn, protect juvenile salmon in the rivers, protect the fishery from illegal fishing and poaching and protect the environment as it relates to fish life.

Since publishing the report, I have returned to the regional centres visited by the task force. In addition to these meetings, my officials and I met the key sectoral interests and listened to the different views on the practical arrangements necessary to put the policy decisions in place. I have given careful consideration to the views expressed at these meetings and to the various observations offered.

The task force recommended a package of measures to secure and augment salmon stocks and to conserve this unique natural resource for future generations. Having consulted the various legitimate interests in the salmon sector, I recently introduced regulations which completed the first phase of implementing the recommendations of the task force. The second phase will progress the implementation of a quota system and the introduction on a formal basis of local catchment management. At home and abroad there has been general acceptance that the measures introduced for 1997 are necessary. The measures entail gains as well as losses for the different sectors in the interest of optimising the resource.

The main recommendations affecting the commercial salmon sector are as follows. In the case of drift nets: a reduction in prescribed maximum number of licences which may be issued by the Regional Fisheries Boards from 847 to 773; a reduction in sea area in which salmon fishing is allowed from 12 to six nautical miles from the baselines; deferral of opening date of fishery to 1 June, the existing closing date remains unchanged; the weekend close period will be extended to three days — Friday to Sunday inclusive; the introduction of day only fishing between the hours 4 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the use of monofilament netting legalised in drift net fishery; and an increase in maximum depth of mesh permitted from 30 deep to 45.

In the case of draft nets; a revision of the prescribed maximum number of licences which may be issued to 518 draft nets and 152 other engines; the opening date of fishery deferred to 15 May — the existing closing date remains unchanged; and the weekend close period will be extended to three days — Saturday to Monday inclusive. Regarding the draft net fishery, it is important to point out that following consultation with that sector, I have decided not to apply the new regulations on fishing in daylight hours to draft nets. The serious restrictions on drift nets, particularly in respect of sea area and days fished will inevitably benefit draft net fishermen in that greater salmon stocks will reach the estuaries.

Overall, the package of measures I have introduced is essential if salmon stock declines are to be halted and if this valuable resource is to be protected in the future. I have already encouraged some estuarial fishermen, anglers and fisheries boards to draw up local catchment management plans which can address the specific area. Perhaps this approach would best address the concern raised by the Deputy in relation to this area.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 30 January 1997.