Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
243. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will maintain the 2021 duties in respect of a special local draft net licence to fish the Owenea and Owentocker tidal waters of Loughros Mór Estuary in view of the restricted total allowable catch for the fishery in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5079/22]
View answerStatutory licence duties are provided for under the Fisheries Acts. In line with the recommendations of the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, the revised duty for Special Local Licences was provided for in the Special Tidal Waters (Special Local Licences) (Alteration of Duties) Order 2021 - SI No. 733 of 2021. Duties were reduced ahead of the 2010 fishing season, in the light of prevailing economic circumstances, and have not been altered since. The revised duty is a restoration to pre-reduction levels. For the Deputy’s information, the available harvestable surplus on the fishery in question has increased by 71% for the 2022 season.
The local Fisheries District Committee, which includes both angling and commercial interests will meet shortly to recommend the division of the surplus available to each sector.
