Vol. 573 No. 3
405 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will introduce a set-aside scheme for salmon fishermen in the interests of a sustainable salmon fishery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25152/03]
As previously stated to this House, my overriding objective is to preserve the salmon resource in its own right and for the coastal and rural communities that it helps to support. The economic goals for a sustainable commercial salmon fishery based on quality and value rather than volume, and also the development of salmon angling as an important tourism product, are both fully compatible with the primary objective.
I have no plans to introduce a national set-aside scheme for commercial salmon fishermen. There is already a regime of measures, including quotas and bag limits which are being implemented through the central and regional fisheries boards, the aim of which is to first and foremost allow adequate spawning stock into our rivers through the establishment of and adherence to conservation limits leading to restoration of salmon stocks and a sustainable salmon fishery.
Should a regional fisheries board bring forward developed proposals for a local catchment based set-aside scheme, however, I would be prepared to consider such a proposal provided that any matching funds required would come from within the existing allocations to the fisheries boards.
