Vol. 541 No. 3
69 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the contact or meetings he has had recently with representatives of the angling industry; the general state of this sector; its future projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22656/01]
Since becoming Minister I have had sustained and regular contact with the national angling organisations and angling clubs throughout the country. In addition the national salmon commission includes representatives of all the major national angling organisations and inland fisheries interests.
I am committed to the continued development of the coarse and game and sea angling to the benefit of local recreational and tourism interests throughout the country. The sector faces key challenges, including water quality concerns, pressure on fish stocks and habitats, stiff international competion for tourist anglers, and the impact on angling vistor numbers this year of the FMD crisis. Investment strategies to upgrade tourism angling facilities under the Tourism Angling Measure, 1994-1999, are being continued and enhanced under the NDP measures for both tourism and recreational angling in the regions which will be launched shortly. I have also made available specific funding in 2000 and 2001 for catchment management based development initiatives on a partnership basis between the regional fisheries boards and local angling interests.
