Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 April 2004
22 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his views on the recommendations of the South Western Regional Fisheries Board following a report on the operational efficiency of different methods of draft net fishing in the Cork Harbour area in view of the outrage expressed by salmon, trout and course anglers at these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10200/04]
View answerThe report to which the Deputy is referring was published in December 2003 and was commissioned jointly by the Cork and District Draft Net Fishermen's Association and the South Western Regional Fisheries Board. The purpose of the report was to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of alternative methods of draft net fishing, and in particular the use of monofilament netting, for salmon in Cork Harbour.
I understand that the main findings indicated that in principle there was no appreciable difference in most situations in either catch efficiency, quality or in by-catch between the monofilament nets and the traditional nylonnets.
Following publication of the draft report, my colleague and Minister for State, Deputy Browne, asked the South Western Regional Fisheries Board to undertake a consultation process in order to obtain the views of all stakeholders, both locally and nationally, on the report's findings. I understand, however, that this process highlighted a wide divergence in the views expressed by anglers and commercial fishermen in the area and that no consensus could be reached in relation to the findings contained in the report. This is despite the fact that the Minister of State recently met both sides to allow them the opportunity to submit their views.
I am advised that the South Western Regional Fisheries Board has now recommended to the Minister of State that there be legislative change to allow the use of monofilament netting by the draftnet fishermen in the Cork Harbour area on a trial basis for three years subject to a number of strict conditions. Given the lack of agreement between the anglers and the commercial fishermen on this particular report, the Minister of State will now be required to consider their respective views in greater detail before making a decision on the board's proposal in time for the commencement of the commercial salmon fishing season in the Cork Harbour area.
