Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 October 2022
9. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure that representatives of the ancient and cultural tradition of snap net fishing will be included in the decision-making process in relation to the salmon catch that is allowed on the rivers Suir and Nore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50474/22]
View answer10. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the way that the ancient tradition of snap net fishing that has been in place since the time of the Vikings will be protected into the future to ensure that the unique skills are not lost forever; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50475/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. I propose to take Questions Nos 9 and 10 together
In December of each year a suite of secondary legislation – including the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations (WSSTTSRs) – is made by my Department to set out the fisheries management regime for the following year. The legislation is based on individual annual assessments of more than 140 Rivers, including the Suir, Nore and Barrow, carried out by the independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS). This scientific assessment supports the annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) setting out the status of each river (open to harvest, open to catch and release angling or closed to all fishing) for the 2023 fishing season.
I am advised by IFI that this year’s scientific assessment and management advice is currently being prepared and will inform which rivers may be safely open to fishing based on such rivers having a harvestable surplus above safe biological limits regardless of the harvest method.
I will shortly bring forward the draft management legislation for 2023 and, as usual, a full 30 day public consultation will commence in early November to afford an opportunity for all stakeholders to make a written submission outlining their views on the proposals before the legislation is finalised.
