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Inland Fisheries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 April 2013

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Questions (355, 356, 357)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

355. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of salmon that came through the fish counter on the Feale in County Kerry during the first three months of 2013 on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19884/13]

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Brendan Griffin

Question:

356. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the basis that net men on the Cashen caught 1,509 Salmon in 2012, the number of salmon they caught in each of the months of June, July and August, that is, the breakdown of the 1,509 figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19885/13]

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Brendan Griffin

Question:

357. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the 49 commercial nets in the Cashen has to be reduced, the primary legislation that would need to be amended or if the decision to allow 49 nets is addressed through statutory instrument annually and signed by the Minister of the day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19886/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 to 357, inclusive, together.

The River Feale counter is located approximately 5 kilometres downstream of Listowel Town in the townland of Scartleigh at the Kerry County Council water abstraction plant.

The counter is a one channel counter operated on a crump which was installed to assist fish over the large weir. I am advised the counter works very well on this site. However fish have been seen travelling over the weir outside of the fish pass in high water conditions so it is not a complete count but it counts the majority of the fish.

Table A below represents the number of fish that have traversed the counter for January, February and March of 2013. These figures are available from Inland Fisheries Ireland through the Limerick office.

Table B below represents the breakdown of 1,509 for the commercial catch for June, July and August 2012.

As the Deputy will be aware the final 10kms of the course of the River Feale is known as the Cashen River and there are 49 public commercial draft net licences and 2 private commercial draft net licences on the River. The number of licences available for draft net operations is set out in the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order currently S.I. 75 of 2013. This Order authorises the issue of commercial fishing licences by Inland Fisheries Ireland and sets out the criteria under which those licences may be issued and prescribes the maximum number of commercial licences that may be issued.

The mechanism for controlling the take of salmon by the commercial fishery is not by licence number but by quota. Each year commercial fishermen apply for commercial licences and are assessed against criteria as set out in the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order which gives priority to established fishermen with a recent history of fishing in the fishery. All applications are put before the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland for approval.

It is important to note that the Total Allowable Catch (quota set) determines the number of fish that can be harvested regardless of the number of licences in operation. The Total Allowable Catch is the surplus available above the conservation limit for the river that can be harvested. This allows for the sustainable exploitation of the river whilst conserving the required number of spawning fish for the system.

The surplus available for 2013 for the River Feale is 1,992 fish. This quota is divided between the commercial fishermen and recreational anglers by the River Basin District Director following consultation with the Fisheries District Committee. The quota is identified by the National Standing Committee for Salmon following assessment of all the relevant scientific data for the river in question including catch figures for the previous 5 years and any other relevant data. This is set out in the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Scheme Regulations S.I. 556 2012 which sets the quota for the Feale including the Galey and Brick rivers at 1,992 for exploitation by commercial and rod and line licensed fishermen in 2013.

Table A - Fish Counter

2013 Month

Feale Counter Figure (Up Only)

January

17

February

32

March

86

Total to date

135

Table B- Commercial Catch

2012 Month

Commercial Catch

June

221

July

1040

August

248

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