Willie Penrose
Question:52 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has in his Department to close down net salmon fishing from next season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19126/97]
Written Answers. - Net Salmon Fishing.
As I informed the House last month, the salmon management strategies I am currently progressing do not include plans to terminate net salmon fishing. My overall policy is aimed at maximising on a sustainable basis the value of the wild salmon resource. A basic tenet of this policy's implementation is that the balance of advantage, on conservation, ecological and economic grounds should lie increasingly with redirecting salmon exploitation towards the rivers and estuaries.
In that context, as I have previously advised this House, my immediate priority is to review the various salmon conservation measures introduced for the 1997 season, and I have asked the Marine Institute, the Central Fisheries Board and the Salmon Research Agency to provide me with a comprehensive assessment of the impact and effectiveness of the salmon conservation measures taken this year. I hope to have this shortly, but I can say that initial reports available to me on catches and stocks highlight the need at least to continue with existing conservation measures.
On salmon management strategies generally, I have already announced my intention to move to a catchment-based approach for inland fisheries management, involving and empowering all users and beneficiaries at local community level. The catchment approach will address the specific and localised impacts of salmon management and conservation strategies, through ongoing review and consultation with all stakeholders in the salmon resource.
In that context, the Marine Institute has recently forwarded to this Department its feasibility study on the introduction of a total allowable catch, quota and tagging regime for salmon which was a key recommendation of the Salmon Management Task Force. In parallel with the Department's own examination of these proposals, I propose to disseminate the document very shortly to all relevant players in the salmon sector and invite their views. This wideranging consultative process will inform decisions on this new management strategy and is in my view essential if we are to continue and build on the hard won consensus on future directions for salmon management which the task force achieved so admirably.