asked the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Tourism if he is aware that there is no salmon drift net licences available from Bannow Bay, County Wexford to Wicklow; if he considers this discriminatory; the proposals he has to ensure that all fishermen around the coasts get equal treatment and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Salmon Drift Net Licences.
19.
I am aware that there are no salmon drift net licences available for the area from Bannow Bay, County Wexford to Wicklow.
The number of commercial fishing licences available for issue is controlled under the Control of Fishing for Salmon Orders, 1980 to 1982. When these controls were introduced in 1972, the number and type of licence allocated to each fishery district was decided in the light of the type and level of salmon fishing in operation in all areas at that time and prior to them. As there was no drift netting in the Wexford fishery district, no drift net licences were allocated to that area. The traditional type of commercial salmon fishing operated in the area is draft netting. Bearing in mind the traditional fishing practices in the area I do not regard the position as discriminatory.