I should clarify for the Deputy that the North Atlantic Salmon Fund is an Icelandic-based voluntary organisation, mainly financed by private donations from individuals and groups. It is not an intergovernmental organisation and the question of Ireland or any other member state signing up to its charter does not arise. As a lobby group, the NASF works to conserve and restore North Atlantic salmon stocks by focusing in particular on voluntary quota buy-outs with commercial salmon fishermen through a mix of public and private funding. The fund has periodically brokered annual compensation agreements with Greenland, Faroese and Icelandic salmon fishermen and is lobbying for the closure and buy-out of commercial salmon net fishing in Ireland with matching public funding.
I had discussions recently with Mr. Orri Vigfusson, founder and chairman of the NASF. Mr. Vigfusson is a regular visitor to Ireland and is campaigning intensively for a voluntary compensation scheme for the entire Irish commercial salmon sector. We had a good exchange of views during which I outlined our current salmon conservation strategies, including the significant restrictions in place since 1996 on the commercial salmon sector, the work of the national salmon commission and my support for pilot set aside schemes in individual catchments. Mr. Vigfusson reiterated his belief that the key to restoring salmon stocks lies in ending the commercial exploitation of salmon through voluntary buy-out. I invited Mr. Vigfusson to submit proposals on how, in practical terms, the NASF would envisage taking forward such a strategy in the Irish context.
I have stressed to Mr. Vigfusson and Irish salmon interests generally that fishing effort for salmon at sea and in the rivers needs to be further reduced in the short term and I am reviewing the need for additional measures, informed by the ongoing advice of the salmon commission. The issues inherent in a complete voluntary buy-out of the Irish commercial salmon sector are very complex. The international experience is also mixed. I have also cautioned previously against excessive expectations about large amounts of compensation and it is not the case that all active commercial salmon fishermen are willing to be bought out. Simplistic solutions will not work.
The NASF submitted outline proposals to me in recent weeks. I have asked my Department, the fishery boards, the Marine Institute and the salmon commission to examine and advise me on these proposals. On receipt of their collective advice, I intend to have further discussions with the NASF to explore in detail the practicalities, realism and cost benefit of its preferred strategy. I will also continue to look at other approaches.
