Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
144 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when he intends to introduce a single stock management system for the commercial catching of wild Irish salmon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5877/04]
View answer160 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the level of river monitoring which will be required to introduce a single stock management system; and the projected cost of such monitoring. [5878/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 160 together.
The overriding objective of the Government 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 the development of salmon angling as an important tourism product are both fully compatible with the primary objective. The current strategy of developing a sustainable commercial and recreational salmon fishery through aligning catches on the scientific advice by next year hold out the strong prospect of a recovery of stocks and of a long term sustainable fishery for both sectors. As a result, I have no plans to introduce a single stock management system for the commercial catch of wild Irish salmon but I intend to keep the matter under review in the context of the policy outlined.
