Vol. 519 No. 5
106 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if a salmon commission has yet been established; the membership of this commission; if commercial interests are to be represented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14299/00]
I established the National Salmon Commission on 21 March 2000 by order made under section 55A of the Fisheries Act, 1980, inserted by section 22 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1999. The membership of the commission consists of a chairperson and 20 other members. Seventeen of these other members were appointed by me on the nomination of the following organisations: The Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association; The Barrow-Nore-Suir Snap Net Fishermen's Alliance; The Western Gamefishing Association; The Wild Salmon Support Group; The Irish Fishermen's Organisation (three members); The Traditional Net Inshore Fishermen's Association; The Irish Salmon Growers Association; The Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers; The National Anglers Representative Association; The Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland; The Central Fisheries Board; A Regional Fisheries Board; The Marine Institute; The Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission; The Electricity Supply Board.
I selected the above nominating organisations in order to ensure that the commission is representative of all the stakeholders in the national salmon resource including the angling and commercial fishing interests.
