Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2023
47. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are scientific projections available to predict if fish stocks will rise sufficiently to allow draft net fishing licence holders to resume fishing on the River Boyne; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29868/23]
View answerEach of Ireland's more the 140 genetically distinct salmon stocks, including the Boyne stock, is assessed every year by the independent Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS). TEGOS is comprised of scientists from a range of organisations and uses data averaged over 5 years to ensure that a "good" or "bad" year does not disproportionately impact its assessments.
These assessments support annual management advice delivered by IFI to enable the Minister to set out the legislative array for the management of salmon for the coming year.
The primary determinant of facilitating fishing is the availability of a harvestable surplus above the individual rivers conservation limit (CL) which is the number of adult spawning fish required to maintain a viable population above safe biological limits as scientifically established.
The assessment of the Boyne stock for 2023 is that it is very significantly below its CL and that facilitating a harvest fishery, either by angling or commercial means, would be irresponsible, detrimental to the river's biodiversity and ecological balance and run counter to the conservation imperative.
The status of the Boyne stock for 2023 is given legislative effect in the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations which came into operation on 1 January following public consultation. In setting out annual fisheries legislation, Minsters since 2006, have consistently acted in line with the Government decision that salmon management is aligned with scientific advice. Consequently, the Boyne is closed to exploitation for 2023 on current scientific advice.
The status of the Boyne stock will again be reviewed in annual scientific assessments later this year.
