Vol. 484 No. 4
38 Mr. Higgins (Mayo): asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the report, if any, he has received from the Central Fisheries Board on its future plans for the management of the River Robe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22294/97]
53 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the proposal to sell off the fishing rights on rivers (details supplied); if this is in accordance with Government policy; if it is intended to sell all waters with rights vested in the State or State agencies in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22329/97]
55 Mr. Higgins (Mayo): asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the report, if any, he has received from the Central Fisheries Board on its future plans for the management of the River Robe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22293/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 53 and 55 together.
A number of fishing stretches on the River Robe in County Mayo are it has transpired vested in the Land Commission and Land Commission fisheries are managed by the Central Fisheries Board. It has been the longstanding practice of the Central Fisheries Board to offer the fishing rights on a number of State-owned fishing stretches, which include Land Commission fisheries, to the public in a tendering process. Tender applications are invited in the press for licences to hold the fishing rights for periods of between one to five years.
It is a stated objective of the Central Fisheries Board to maximise the opportunities for local management and development of all such fisheries. In line with this objective, it is the case that over the years the majority of these State owned fishing rights are licensed to local angling clubs on the ground and not as intimated, to exclusive private interests. I would stress to the House that there is no question at any time of selling off state owned fishing rights or fisheries either in the River Robe or elsewhere. The tendering and licensing process to which the Deputy refers is in fact designed to assist the management, conservation and development of State owned fisheries to their full potential, having full regard for local interests and concerns.
Heretofore the River Robe has been fished as an unmanaged free fishery by local anglers in the area. These stretches were recently identified as a Land Commission fishery in title research carried out by the Central Fisheries Board. Accordingly, in line with the standard practice of CFB it was advertised for leasing along with other State-owned fisheries. It was this potential change from the unmanaged free fishery which has given rise to concerns at local level and among Deputies.
