Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
136. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timeline for the inland fisheries (modernisation and consolidation) Bill; his views regarding the revoked eel fishing licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22975/15]
View answerThe current principal statute governing inland fisheries is the Inland Fisheries Act 1959. It is “of its time” and also itself a consolidation of legislation dating back to the 1800s. While the Government is committed to modernising and updating this code, it must address a range of complex issues including improving access to fisheries, aquatic alien invasive species (plants and animals), overhauling fishery offences and bringing the penalties in line with the Fines Act, 2010, updating and modernising the current water-keeper system and clarification of ownership of fisheries. Considerable effort has been directed to this task, and I particularly want to recognise the effort and commitment of the various Angling Federations in advancing a unified submission to my Department. An undertaking was given by my predecessor not to advance legislative provisions as regards Inland Fisheries until the angling stakeholders (the various Angling Federations) had an opportunity to meet and consider what cohesive contribution they could make in respect of to the proposed Bill. The Federations have recently finalised their views in the form of a submission and I intend to meet with them very shortly in advance of an extensive public consultation process which will involve all stakeholders.
As regards the situation with eel fisheries, I am advised that the latest advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in 2014 states that “The status of eel remains critical and ICES advises that all anthropogenic mortality (e.g. recreational and commercial fishing, hydropower, pumping stations, and pollution) affecting production and escapement of silver eels should be reduced to – or kept as close to – zero as possible. The annual recruitment to Europe has increased over the last 3 years from 5% to 12% of historic levels, however, recruitment is still well below the reference levels of 1960-1979, there is no change in the status of the eel as being "critically endangered”, and the overall requirement and objective remains to provide, with high probability, a long-term 40% escapement to the sea of the biomass of silver eel, relative to pristine conditions (i.e. if the stock had been completely free of man-made influences including commercial fishing).
A public consultation process on Ireland's eel Management Plan is currently underway as part of the 2015 review and stakeholders have the opportunity to make written submissions up to the closing date of 17 June. To assist the consultation process a number of documents have been made publically available: the activity report of the statutorily independent Standing Scientific Committee on Eels; IFI’s three year monitoring report 2012 to 2014; and Ireland’s Eel Regulation Report to the EU 2015. The documents are intended to stimulate an exchange of views within the public consultation for the 2015 review during which it is expected that a range of issues will be raised and considered.
I intend to make the full details of the outputs of the public consultation available when this process concludes. Similar reviews are being carried out across EU Member States as the eel stock has radically declined throughout Europe.
