Vol. 480 No. 3
5 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for the Marine if he will extend the season to 15 August 1997 for net fishermen in view of the desperate weather conditions during the month of June which seriously curtailed drift netting for salmon. [13998/97]
Any number of requests are made each year for extensions to the commercial and the rod angling seasons for salmon fishing at various locations. Extensions have not been granted to the drift net salmon season since 1978. Based on the scientific advice available to me on the poor state of salmon stocks generally, and interim reports from the Marine Institute on fishing activity during the commercial salmon season to date this year, I do not consider there is a case for granting extensions to the current drift net season beyond 31 July.
Deputies will be aware the new salmon conservation measures introduced for the 1997 season contain gains as well as losses for both the commercial and recreational salmon sector including, as part of the overall package, the legalisation of monofilament nets which had long been sought by the drift net fishermen. In addition, commercial salmon fishermen have been permitted to continue fishing to 31 July in those areas where fishing in previous years finished on 25 July.
I have asked the Department, the Marine Institute and the central and regional fisheries boards to provide me with the earliest possible analysis, as soon as the season is over, of the impact and effectiveness of this year's salmon conservation measures with a view to deciding whether any additional or modified measures should be introduced for 1998. I also look forward to hearing at first hand the views of the representative user groups, both commercial and angling, on salmon management strategies that can best deliver results in the interest of the resource and of all those with legitimate rights in salmon exploitation. I have also asked the Marine Institute to expedite its work on proposals for the introduction of a TAC, quota and tagging regime for salmon which, as Deputies will be aware, was recommended by the Salmon Task Force as an essential prerequisite for any future consideration of extensions into August of the commercial salmon season.
Is the Minister aware that 1997 is exceptional when compared to other years as regard drift-netting for salmon in that fishing has been severely curtailed this year? The months of April and May have been eliminated. Prior to that March was eliminated. Therefore, drift-net salmon fishermen can only operate in the months of June and July. Is the Minister aware of that?
Is he aware that the weather in June was the worst on record? It was the wettest, coldest and windiest June on record. In effect, drift-net salmon fishermen have been unable to fish during most of the month of June and their fishing has been confined to July. As that is the case, will the Minister make a case to have the fishing season extended to 15 August?
I accept the weather has not been suitable but, according to scientific information, it is not the weather but the stocks which are causing the problem, especially given the use of monofilament nets and new methods of fishing which were approved this year.
The new conservation regulations, which were introduced for 1997, complete the first phase of the implementation of the recommendations of the task force report. The primary aim of these measures was to restrict salmon exploitation to allow a greater number of fish escape up river to spawn and contain compensatory gains as well as losses for the various sectors in the interests of optimising the resource.
The regulations affecting the main commercial sectors relating to drift-net fishing were a reduction in the proscribed maximum number of licences, the reduction in the sea area in which salmon fishing is allowed from 12 to six nautical miles from the base lines, the deferral of the opening day to 1 June, the introduction of day only fishing between the hours of 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., the extension of the weekend close period to three days, that is, Friday to Sunday, inclusive, the use of the monofilament netting legalised in the drift-net fishery, which was very important in terms of catches, and increases in the maximum depth of mesh permitted from 30 to 45 meshes. This was part of the plan introduced for this year and it is part of the report of the salmon management task force which was established in 1995.
The bottom line is that it is believed that the problem is one of stocks rather than weather. I have no objection to listening to people, but I do not want to go against all that has been developed by the scientific people and others who are attempting to improve the stocks. The Deputy will know that, in relation to other countries, Ireland would be quite different in allowing drift-net salmon fishing.
Would the Minister agree that the net result this year as far as of the introduction of regulation is concerned — they confined them to four days fishing per week, and weather conditions, which, as the Minister will probably be aware, can be too calm as well as being too rough for drift-net fishing — is that it will be the shortest season on record for drift-net fishermen? I am sure the Minister and his officials are monitoring the catches to date. It is not that the salmon are not there but that the fishermen are not able to catch them. The catches being landed are the smallest on record for this time of the year. In view of that, will the Minister monitor the situation between now and the end of this month and, if there is no significant improvement, will he look at the feasibility of extending the season for a fortnight, as requested by Deputy Deasy?
I will monitor the situation and, as I said to Deputy Deasy, I will listen to the points made, but I have great fears for the stocks. That is what the report, which was commissioned and implemented by my predecessor last year, is based on and I do not want to depart from it.
Will the Minister give an assurance that he will also monitor the situation in the Foyle fishery area? We all recognise the need for conservation but, at the same time, the season is quite short there. The licence fee there is twice that in other areas and fishermen want the best value from their licences. If a sufficient number of salmon have passed above Sion Mill's Weir and it is viable in the context of the conservation measures, I ask the Minister to apply pressure to extend the season?
If the Deputy can furnish me with more information on that matter, I will examine it.
