Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
57. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Climate Action and Communication Networks the process for granting foreshore fishing licences in Bantry and Kenmare Bay; the number of licences sought; the number of licences granted; the entitlements accompanying a licence and the permissions granted or not granted in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24664/20]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the State Agency responsible for issuing licences for recreational and commercial salmon and sea trout fishing. There is no specific “foreshore fishing licence” among the categories of fishing licence issued by IFI.
Angling licences are normally valid for all rivers on a national basis or in the case of district licences relate to all of the rivers in any one of the 17 Fishery Districts. Commercial licences are also issued on a fishery district basis.
Licence holders may only fish on rivers where a sustainable surplus above the individual river’s conservation limit has been confirmed, conveying a status on the river of open for exploitation. In addition, commercial exploitation is limited to those rivers or estuaries where a commercial fishery exists. Rivers which have a catch and release status may only be fished by anglers but fish cannot be retained. A licence does not entitle a person to fish the stock of any river which is closed to exploitation..
The status of a river is determined via the annual scientific assessments carried out by the independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) and the management advice of IFI. Licence conditions are set out in annual legislation: the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations (angling and commercial) and the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order (commercial). Local regulations or bye-laws may also apply.
An angling permit from a fishery owner may be required in addition to a State licence for waters which are in private rather than public ownership. Private fishery owners wishing to catch fish commercially must also have a state commercial fishing licence to engage in this activity.
