On the recommendation of the National Fisheries Managers Executive, fisheries boards managers, endorsed by the National Salmon Commission, the price of salmon rod licences increased from 1 January 2003.
The annual salmon rod ordinary licence duties were last increased in 1988 while the cost of district, 21 day, one day and juvenile licences were last increased in 1992. It is my intention that in the future these duties will be adjusted annually in line with the consumer price index.
According to the fisheries boards, the increases are in line with inflation, rounded up or down to the nearest €5, with the exception of the one-day ordinary licence, which has been increased from €3.80 to €10. The boards sought the greater than inflation rate increase in this case because an increase in line with inflation, to €5.61, would still not cover the cost of printing and distributing the licences. It was decided that the juvenile licence would remain at the 1992 price of €10 per annum. It is most important that young people are encouraged to take up angling for the future of recreational angling and to foster an awareness of our fisheries environment.