Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 4

Written Answers. - Shannon Fisheries.

Denis Naughten

Question:

107 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of brown trout reared and placed in the Shannon system by ESB or Shannon Regional Fisheries Board since 1991; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12147/99]

Denis Naughten

Question:

108 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to ensure that the river Shannon system is stocked with brown trout on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12148/99]

Denis Naughten

Question:

109 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the budget and staff allocated by Shannon Regional Fisheries Board to the Shannon system north of Limerick city excluding Lough Sheelin and Little Brosna; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12149/99]

Denis Naughten

Question:

110 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to ensure that ESB carries out its statutory obligation in relation to wild brown trout stocks in the Shannon system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12150/99]

Denis Naughten

Question:

111 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to hand over responsibility of the Shannon system currently with ESB to Shannon Regional Fisheries Board. [12151/99]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 108, 109, 110 and 111 together.

Under the Fisheries Act, 1935, the ESB is the statutory owner of the Shannon fisheries, and there are no plans at present to alter the existing statutory arrangements.

The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board is currently responsible for development work on the Shannon under lease from the ESB and Central Fisheries Board. The board allocated just over £800,000 of its 1998 budget of £1.2 million to fisheries service in the Shannon system above Limerick and excluding Lough Sheelin and the Brosna. The board has 47 permanent field staff deployed in the Shannon region.

The ESB recently completed a four year survey and analysis of trout stocks in the lower Shannon system and consultations are in progress with the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and the midwest regional authority on a follow-up fisheries improvement programme, in light of the findings of the survey. Key elements of the envisaged fisheries improvement programme would include habitat conservation and enhancement as well as improving water quality generally in the system in order to underpin future restocking strategies. During the period in question, 1991-98, the ESB did not restock the Shannon with trout. The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board continued its trout restocking programme in those Shannon tributaries and lakes under its management as follows:

Year	Fry	1+RainbowTrout	1+BrownTrout	2+BrownTrout	Total
1991	128,000	2,350	–	18,450	148,800
1992	120,000	2,600	6,000	19,900	148,500
1993	150,000	3,250	–	27,490	180,740
1994	110,000	1,000	–	22,960	133,960
1995	240,000	1,000	–	33,834	274,834
1996	440,000	7,000	–	18,500	465,500
1997	150,000	9,500	39,000	19,000	217,500
1998	250,000	7,250	36,000	22,300	315,550