Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 3

Written Answers. - Inland Fisheries.

Martin Ferris

Question:

284 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Northern Fisheries Board has reduced the salmon quota for this season to 60 tags per licence in the area from Glen Hind to Malin Head; his views on whether fishermen can make a living on ?900 per season, in view of the fact that salmon are urgently selling at ?15 each; if the reduced quota is attributable to stock conservation; the reason the board does not operate a counter system on the rivers which flow into Lough Swilly, the Cranagh, Lennon and Swilly; the reason licence holders were not consulted; and if it is the policy of the board to drive small fishermen out of business. [17708/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

The commercial salmon quota for the Letterkenny district which includes the area from Glen Head to Malin Head is set at 17,497 fish for the 2003 season. This figure was decided by my colleague the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Browne, following the advice of the National Salmon Commission which is representative of all the stakeholders.

The distribution of the aforementioned quotas is a matter for the chief executive officer of the Northern Regional Fisheries Board in accordance with the power vested in him under the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations, 2003, following consultation with the Letterkenny fishery district committee which is representative of all the commercial fishermen in the district.

Given that the distribution of the quota and the other issues raised by the Deputy are operational matters for which the Northern Regional Fisheries Board have responsibility I have forwarded the queries raised to the chief executive officer of that board and asked him to reply directly to the Deputy in the matter.