Fisheries Protection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2006

Tuesday, 14 November 2006

Questions (260, 261, 262)

Enda Kenny

Question:

327 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent of personnel to be recruited in each fishery board area from 1 January 2007 in order to properly supervise and monitor the implementation of the ban on drift net fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37458/06]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Browne)

Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection, development and improvement of inland fisheries rests with the regional fisheries boards.

Funding is allocated directly to each fisheries board from the vote of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. These funds are applied by the Fisheries boards towards their statutory functions of conservation, management, development, protection and improvement of inland fisheries in each of the regions according to their needs.

Funding will be provided in my Department's Estimate for the recruitment of additional staff in accordance with a request coordinated by the National Fishery Manager's Executive but the detailed implementation of this is still under discussion.

Enda Kenny

Question:

328 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the name of each river currently below salmon conservation and survival requirements; the rivers in respect of which there will be no rod angling allowed initially for 2007; the way it is proposed to supervise this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37459/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Browne)

The Government's primary motivation is the conservation of the wild salmon species, which has long been regarded as one of Ireland's most prized fish. It is vital to afford every protection to the remaining salmon stocks and to clearly prioritise conservation over catch. The current imperative must be to maintain stocks above conservation limits or at the very least halt the observed decline.

I am advised that current scientific data has identified that 109 of the salmon rivers in the State are below their conservation limit and details of these are set out in the following table.

The draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2007 will set out the rivers on which rod angling may take place and the controls that will apply and I intend publishing these regulations later this week, following which, there will be a 30 day consultation period.

Under the Fisheries Acts, the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards are primarily responsible for the management and protection of fisheries including measures in relation to enforcement.

Rivers below their Conservation Limit

District	River Name
Dundalk	Dee
Dundalk	Flurry
Dundalk	Glyde
Drogheda	Boyne
Dublin	Dargle
Dublin	Liffey
Dublin	Vartry
Waterford	Barrow
Waterford	Clodiagh
Waterford	Colligan
Waterford	Corock R
Waterford	Lingaun
Waterford	Mahon
Waterford	Nore
Waterford	Owenduff
Waterford	Pollmounty
Waterford	Suir
Waterford	Tay
Wexford	Avoca
Wexford	Owenavorragh
Wexford	Slaney
Lismore	Bride
Lismore	Finisk
Lismore	Glenshelane
Lismore	Lickey
Lismore	Tourig
Lismore	Womanagh
Cork	Adrigole
Cork	Argideen
Cork	Glengarriff
Cork	Owennacurra
Cork	Owvane
Kerry	Behy
Kerry	Carhan
Kerry	Cloonee
Kerry	Cottoners
Kerry	Croanshagh (Glanmore R. and L.)
Kerry	Emlagh
Kerry	Emlaghmore
Kerry	Feohanagh
Kerry	Ferta
Kerry	Finnihy
Kerry	Inney
Kerry	Kealincha
Kerry	Lee
Kerry	Lough Fada
Kerry	Maine
Kerry	Milltown
Kerry	Owenascaul
Kerry	Owenreagh
Kerry	Owenshagh
Kerry	Sheen
Limerick	Annageeragh
Limerick	Aughyvackeen
Limerick	Brick
Limerick	Deel
Limerick	Doonbeg
Limerick	Fergus
Limerick	Galey
Limerick	Inagh
Limerick	Maigue
Limerick	Owenagarney
Limerick	Skivaleen
Galway	Aille (Galway)
Galway	Clarinbridge
Galway	Kilcolgan
Galway	Knock
Galway	Owenboliska R (Spiddal)
Connemara	L. Na Furnace
Ballinakill	Bunowen
Ballinakill	Carrownisky
Ballinakill	Culfin
Ballinakill	Dawros
Ballinakill	Owenwee (Belclare)
Bangor	Glenamoy
Bangor	Muingnabo
Bangor	Newport R. (Lough Beltra)
Bangor	Owengarve R.
Bangor	Srahmore (Burrishoole)
Ballina	Ballinglen
Ballina	Brusna
Ballina	Cloonaghmore (Palmerstown)
Ballina	Leaffony
Sligo	Garvogue (Bonnet)
Sligo	Grange
Ballyshannon	Abbey
Ballyshannon	Ballintra (Murvagh R).
Ballyshannon	Bungosteen
Ballyshannon	Erne
Ballyshannon	Eske
Ballyshannon	Laghy
Ballyshannon	Oily
Ballyshannon	Owenwee (Yellow R)
Letterkenny	Bracky
Letterkenny	Clonmany
Letterkenny	Culoort
Letterkenny	Donagh
Letterkenny	Glenagannon
Letterkenny	Glenna
Letterkenny	Gweedore (Crolly R.)
Letterkenny	Isle (Burn)
Letterkenny	Lackagh
Letterkenny	Leannan
Letterkenny	Mill
District	River Name
Letterkenny	Owenamarve
Letterkenny	Owentocker
Letterkenny	Ray
Letterkenny	Straid
Letterkenny	Swilly

Enda Kenny

Question:

329 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the estimated numbers based on scientific evidence of the extra numbers of salmon that may return to Irish waters as a result of the drift net ban; the estimated numbers based on similar scientific evidence that may return to waters outside this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37460/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Browne)

Scientific advice currently estimates that approximately 60,000 fish that might otherwise be taken in at-sea drift-net fishery may return to Irish rivers in 2007.

Advice is not available to indicate the possible numbers that may return to waters outside the jurisdiction.

The Government's primary motivation is the conservation of the wild salmon species, which has long been regarded as one of Ireland's most prized fish. It is vital to afford every protection to the remaining salmon stocks and to clearly prioritise conservation over catch. The current imperative must be to maintain stocks above conservation limits or at the very least halt the observed decline.