I am advised by the Central Fisheries Board that there are 297 field staff in the regional fisheries boards engaged in salmon fisheries management. The board advises that these staff work on a cross functional flexibility basis in the management of salmon and other inland fisheries species.
I expect to receive a comprehensive report on the management and operation of the 2003 Irish salmon fishery from the Central Fisheries Board before the end of the year. The report will offer a factual analysis of the board's protection effort in addressing illegal salmon fishing and I cannot comment further until this report is available.