Vol. 496 No. 1
83 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has satisfied himself that the ESB, which is the owner of Lough Derg, is meeting its legal obligation to maintain the trout stock in that waterway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19956/98]
The ESB under the Shannon Fisheries Act, 1935, has statutory responsibility to manage, conduct and preserve the Shannon fisheries. I recently launched the ESB's River Shannon salmon management programme which sets out the objectives and strategy for the management of the resource into the 21st century. I welcome this initiative taken by the ESB to deliver in a strategic and focused way on its statutory remit. In a complementary initiative the ESB advises that it has commissioned a report on trout stocks in Lough Derg and circulated it to all the relevant interest groups, including the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board. I look forward to receiving in due course a strategy for the restoration and development of trout stocks in Lough Derg. In the meantime I will arrange for a copy of the report to be forwarded to the Deputy.
