Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 May 1998

Vol. 490 No. 7

Written Answers. - Draftnet Licences.

Bernard Allen

Question:

90 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will explain, in relation to the issuing of draftnet licences containing restrictive conditions, the footnote which states that any aggrieved person could appeal the conditions imposed within 28 days after 16 January 1998, despite the fact that the licence and conditions were not provided to the applicants until April 1998, which made it impossible for aggrieved persons to use their rights to appeal the conditions to the High Court. [11049/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I take it the Deputy is referring to bye-law No. 743 of 1998 which I signed on 14 January 1998 and published on 16 January 1998 and which renewed the conservation measures for commercial salmon and trout fishing for 1998.

The footnote to the published bye-law stated that any aggrieved person could appeal the conditions of same within 28 days from 16 January 1998, the date it was published in Iris Oifigiúil and national newspapers. The appeal route was open to all concerned parties including licence holders.

Bernard Allen

Question:

91 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason, in relation to the issuing of draftnet licences, he specified that after 11 June 1998 fishing in the Slaney will be allowed on a five day week Monday to Friday basis while in the Lee estuary fishing will be only allowed Tuesday to Friday, a four day week basis. [11050/98]

Bernard Allen

Question:

92 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason the closing date for draftnet fishing in the Lee estuary is 15 August while the closing date on the Slaney is 30 August in relation to the issuing of draftnet licences for 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11051/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together.

I should clarify that the closing dates for draftnet salmon fishing on the Slaney and Lee estuaries in 1998 are 31 August and 31 July respectively and not the dates referred to by the Deputy.

The additional fishing allowed in the Slaney estuary is predicated on the Slaney Management Plan which was agreed between all interested parties in the Slaney catchment in 1994, i.e. prior to the Salmon Management Task Force recommendations. Under the plan as initially agreed the Slaney draftnetsmen were allowed a five day fishing week from 1 May to the 31 August each year from 1994 to 1998 both years inclusive, in lieu of giving up fishing during the month of April. The plan was modified slightly last year by the deferral of the opening season until 12 May and a four day week for the first month. The arrangements for the Slaney draftnet fishery and all of the conservation measures in place generally for 1998 will be critically reviewed in consultation with all relevant interests for next year and future years in the context of further developments of salmon management strategies, including the catchment management pilot projects and tagging and quota proposals, and in light of comprehensive salmon catch and stock assessments for 1997 and 1998.