Vol. 493 No. 4
40 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will document the progress made to date regarding the implementation of the salmon management task force report particularly the recommendations that the total allowable catch be apportioned 64 per cent to drfitnetters, 18 per cent to draft and estuarine nets and 18 per cent to the rod angling sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15999/98]
The salmon management task force recommended, inter alia, the introduction of a total allowable catch and quota regime to achieve realtime management of salmon stocks, predicated on the principle of equitable sharing of the resource between all legitimate interests. The report offered a possible management model and criteria for setting the TAC initially and for percentage shares, while making it clear that quota apportionment and rebalancing would be a matter of policy.
To take forward the practical work of assessment of the task force's proposals, I commissioned the Marine Institute to prepare a technical report on the devising, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of a TAC and quota based management system. I published that report in order to inform and assist the consultative process with all players and organisations on the practical, legal and resource implications inherent in these proposals. The consultation and feedback process has recently been augmented by a working party involving the Department, the CFB and the managers of the regional fisheries boards which is developing a collective analysis of the most practicable and cost efficient approach to the incremental translation of these concepts into reality. Future directions will be critically informed by this constructive and practical exercise and feedback from all interested parties.
