Written Answers - Salmon Management.
Eamon Ryan
Question:
160
Mr. Eamon Ryan
asked the
Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
his plans to review the previous Government's decision not to introduce a temporary ban on drift netting for salmon; if he has received representations from international sources regarding the need for such a move; and the reasons the Government will present to the international community to explain the reason Ireland is the only country involved in attempts to preserve the Atlantic salmon not to introduce a ban.
[6230/03]
The Government has in recent years introduced a range of measures to manage the home water commercial salmon fisheries. As part of these measures, the drift net season is now confined to a two-month period in June and July. This measure is designed to protect the larger multi-sea winter salmon which are of prime interest to recovering fisheries on the European mainland. The Government also introduced the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme which limited the total allowable commercial catch of salmon for the first time in 2002.
The National Salmon Commission has completed a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of this scheme and, as part of its considered advice, recently recommended that the total allowable commercial catch of salmon for the 2003 season should not exceed 182,000 fish. This represents a 12% cut on the commercial catch in 2002. I understand that the salmon commission tendered its recommendation based on the advice of its own standing scientific committee and the management of the central and regional fisheries boards.
I also understand that the commission is of the view that we must bring spawning escapement in all districts and catchments up to the level of the conservation limit as soon as possible and within a defined time frame. The commission has further recommended that a three-year strategy should be put in place to ensure that, through further progressive reductions, the conservation limits specified by its standing scientific committee should be reached by 2005. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, has already indicated publicly our concurrence with this approach.
The National Salmon Commission has made a number of other recommendations aimed at improving the operation of the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme in 2003. My Department is finalising the draft regulations to give effect to these proposed adjustments. I intend to publish these shortly for a 30-day period in accordance with the requirements of the Fisheries Acts. During this time, interested parties will have an opportunity to submit any objections they may have which I will consider before I make a final decision on the scheme.
I am aware of certain criticism about Ireland's policy on drift netting and the Marine Institute is working to assess the impact the Irish catch has on salmon stocks in other countries. While this study is not completed, I am advised that preliminary results would dispute the claim that we are preventing these stocks from reaching their spawning grounds in large numbers. In the meantime, as Minister I intend to ensure that all practical measures are taken to conserve, restore, manage and develop our salmon resource, and I pledge to do this in partnership with all in the industry who share this common goal.
