Vol. 571 No. 4
330 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason he ignored the Government and scientific panels' advice which advised a total allowable catch of 989 for the Waterford area and instead issued a total allowable catch of 15,141; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22116/03]
The National Salmon Commission, having completed a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme for 2002, recommended as part of its considered advice that the total allowable commercial catch of salmon for the 2003 season for all fisheries districts should not exceed 182,000 fish which included 15,141 in respect of the Waterford district. This recommendation was made rather than the application of the precautionary catch advice provided by its own standing scientific committee of 139,751 salmon which included 13,103 in respect of the Waterford district. The salmon commission tendered its recommendation based on the advice of the standing scientific committee and the management of the central and regional fisheries boards bearing in mind the socio economic impact of applying the precautionary catch immediately.
The scientific committee has agreed that the implementation of a three year strategy aimed at reaching the conservation limit by 2005 would be acceptable from a scientific viewpoint.
