asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will ensure that no regulations will be introduced this year to curtail the incomes of genuine drift net salmon fishermen in Lough Foyle, County Donegal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Foyle Salmon.
48.
I have not been informed by the Foyle Fisheries Commission of any proposed revision of the existing arrangements affecting net fishing for salmon in their area. Should regulation providing for any change be submitted by the commission for my approval I will bear in mind the Deputy's interest in the matter.
Is the Minister aware that a rumour is circulating that the drift net fishing period will be reduced from five to four nights? With the three-hour fishing period each night, this means that fishing time will be reduced from 15 hours to——
The Deputy must ask a question.
The Foyle Fisheries Commission have the Letterkenny Board of Conservators on one side and on the other side the Coleraine board who do not propose to reduce their fishing limits. Will the Minister take this into consideration when proposals are put before him?
The only information I have is that an extension of the weekly closed time for all net fishing, including the nets operated by the commission, will be from 60 to 72 hours. There is general agreement about this.
Has the Minister made any inquiries from the Foyle Fisheries Commission? Is his statement, made a few moments ago, that he was unaware of any curtailment——
I did not say that I was unaware of it. I said I was aware of curtailment and there was general agreement——
Would the Minister read his reply again because I did not take that meaning from what he said?
I have not been informed by the Foyle Fisheries Commission of any proposed revision of the existing arrangements affecting net fishing for salmon in their area. agus an Chomhchaidrimh. Rinne na h-íocaíochtaí le Gael-Linn agus leis an Should regulations providing for any change be submitted by the commission for my approval I will bear in mind the Deputy's interest in the matter.
Am I to take it that no changes are being made or contemplated?
I said in my reply to Deputy Harte that I was aware that an extension of the weekly closed time for all net fishing, including the nets operated by the commission themselves will be from 60 to 72 hours. There were meetings with various interests concerned and this was generally agreed.
Will the Minister take it from me that there is grave dissatisfaction over the proposed curtailment? Will he indicate to me at a later stage, if he cannot do it now, what the full range of curtatilment will be?
There were proposals also for a reduction in the length of the nets being used, and there is disagreement about this.
Question No. 49. We cannot have a debate on this subject. I have given a good deal of latitude to Deputies.
This is a specific question for which we have not got a specific reply. If the Minister was not kept informed by the commission, when this question was put down he should have familiarised himself with what they are doing or what they intend to do.
We cannot have a debate on the subject.
I know exactly what they are doing.
Let the Minister tell the House what they are doing.
I have told the House.
Will there be a shortening of the nets and a shortening of the fishing week?
I have told the Deputy that there is general agreement that there will be a shortening of the fishing week and argument is continuing about the shortening of the nets.
When the Foyle Fisheries Commission last proposed to reduce their fishing week, Deputy Cunningham offered us an opportunity of voting against it in this House——
Please, Deputies. Question No. 49.
I should like to draw the attention of the Deputies to the depletion of the salmon stock.
Has the Minister evidence of this?
Yes, I have.
Question No. 49, please.
In 1970 there were 113,649 salmon caught; in 1971 there were 83,911; in 1972 there were 69,530 and last year 61,795. I think that the people appreciate the need for curtailment.
I am calling the next question. Question No. 49.
Arising out of the Minister's reply——
We must finish at some stage.
Has the Minister available to him the report of a survey carried out by Canadian experts?
That is a separate question.
What is the result of that report and will the Minister circulate it in the House?
I have not yet got the report.