Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2023
50. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he intends amending bye law 806 and 809 in relation to inland waters for all SAC-designated waters in order to preserve the ecosystems there and preserve the wild trout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11615/23]
View answerThe Bye-laws referred to by the Deputy have been in place for some 16 years. However, to provide for the most robust, modern, comprehensive and sustainable management of SAC designated waters, I requested Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to prepare and submit to me a comprehensive draft management plan for all waters within the Great Western Lakes.
This Plan aims to address some of the many factors that impact on the ecological well being and the status of native fish stocks in the catchments of the Great Western Lakes. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have previously submitted a draft Management Plan to me and I have written to IFI to confirm my support for the draft plan.
Any legislative change that may be considered for SAC-designated waters will be done so in the context of this plan.
