Vol. 484 No. 4
42 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the way in which he justifies extending the fishing season into August after refusing to do so in early July based on the information from the scientific people and others who are attempting to improve the stocks. [19007/97]
As I have previously advised the House, I received numerous requests this summer for extensions to the commercial fishing season in various regions around the coast. Having carefully considered all the submissions made to me, the advice of relevant regional fisheries boards and the scientific assessments by the Central Fisheries Board and the Marine Institute, as well as the particular local circumstances, I decided, as an exceptional measure, to grant extensions in just three specific areas; the North Western Fisheries Region, the Rivers Cashen-Feale, and the Waterford Fisheries District — effectively allowing fishermen in the relevant areas up to five days additional fishing time.
My key policy objective remains to secure the future for salmon in its own right and in the economic interests of the rural and coastal communities which it supports. I am therefore working to conserve and enhance salmon stocks in the interest of all legitimate stakeholders in the resource.
In that context, 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 the 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 wide-ranging consultative process will inform decisions on this new management strategy and is in my view essential if we are to continue to build on the hand-won consensus on future directions for salmon management which the task force achieved so admirably.
