Byelaws prohibiting the killing of sea trout were introduced following the collapse of the sea trout stocks in the West from the early 1990s and the failure of these stocks to recover to pre-1990 levels. I have included a copy of the Conservation of Sea Trout Bye-law, No. 834 of 2008 which covers the Fishery Districts of Galway, Connemara, Ballinakill, and also part of the Bangor district.
I have also included a graphic illustration of the stock levels 1974-2012 which shows the collapse and the lack of recovery. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that fisheries staff enforce this byelaw in the areas concerned in line with the conservation imperative for this stock.
I would be happy to arrange for IFI to provide a full briefing on the scientific and management rationale for the measure.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
FISHERIES ACTS 1959 TO 2006
CONSERVATION OF SEA TROUT BYE-LAW NO. 834, 2008.
I, Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 9 (as amended by section 3 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1962 (No. 31 of 1962)) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 (No. 14 of 1959), section 33 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1962, the Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 30 of 1977) (as adapted by the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2007 (S.I. No. 706 of 2007)) and having complied with the requirements of Regulation 31 of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 94 of 1997), hereby make the following bye-law:
1. This Bye-law may be cited as the Conservation of Sea Trout
Bye-law No. 834, 2008.
2. This Bye-law comes into operation on the day of its making.
3. In this Bye-law "sea trout" means the migratory form of salmo trutta L.
4. This Bye-law applies to the waters of the following fishery districts -
(a) the No. 91 or Galway District,
(b) the No. 92 or Connemara District,
(c) the No. 101 or Ballinakill District, and
(d) that part of the sea within the No. 102 or Bangor District south of a line drawn due east and west through the most westerly point of Achill Head situated in the townland of Keel West, Achill Island in the county of Mayo and all waters discharging into it.
5. Notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law, it is prohibited for any person to take a sea trout by means of any fishing engine or rod and line in the
waters of the fishery district to which this Bye-law applies unless the sea trout is handled carefully and immediately returned alive to the waters from which it is taken.
6. It is prohibited for any person to have in his or her possession or control on or near the waters of the fishery districts to which this Bye-law applies any sea trout which is not alive taken from those waters.
GIVEN under my Official Seal,
14 March 2008.
_Eamon Ryan
Eamon Ryan,
Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
Connemara Fisheries
