Vol. 539 No. 1
94 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of District Court orders obtained by the ESB's fisheries protection staff to dispose of confiscated materials, for example, boats, outboard engines and nets, during any period between 1984 to 2000, in relation to Shannon Basin and its catchment area. [18606/01]
95 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the details of the ESB's elvers restocking programme; if the ESB has sub-contracted this programme to a private company; and if his Department is supervising the activity. [18607/01]
96 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the details of records retained by the ESB's fisheries protection staff in relation to confiscated materials, for example, boats, outboard engines and nets during any period between 1984 and 2000 in relation to Shannon Basin and its catchment area; and the management structure in place to ensure the fisheries Acts are complied with. [18608/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 95 and 96 together.
As I have stated in replies to previous questions, the Shannon Fisheries Acts provide that the ESB, in addition but subject and without prejudice to, the primary function of maintaining, working and developing the Shannon hydro-electric works, is responsible for managing, conducting and preserving the Shannon fisheries vested in it, subject to my general supervision.
The ESB has advised that to assemble the information requested in relation to material confiscated over the years in question would require a major investment of resources and that, furthermore, records for many of the events may no longer be in existence. Seizures and disposals by ESB staff are carried out in accordance with the relevant legislation.
The ESB has prepared a synthesis report on the River Shannon Eel Management Programme 1992 to 2000. The report states that elver supplies for restocking can be obtained from the traps at Ardnacrusha and on estuarine tributaries such as the Rivers Maigue and Feale. The ESB also informs me that this year, in order to augment recruitment of juvenile eels, it contracted with a private company for the restocking of glass eels, however, this work did not proceed due to foot and mouth disease restrictions.
