Vol. 452 No. 5
129 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for the Marine the provisions, if any, that are in place and the plans, if any, there are to protect the Lough Erne Waterway and its hinterland north and south of the Border; if there is a joint approach to such protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8346/95]
The protection of fish stocks in the portion of the River Erne catchment area located south of the Border is the statutory responsibility of the Northern Regional Fisheries Board. I am sure that the board will, in this regard, supply the Deputy with any information he may request. There is a long standing joint approach to practical issues of fisheries conservation and protection in the Erne catchment area as a whole through the River Erne Joint Protection Committee. The committee, which is an informal non-statutory body, is representative of relevant Departments and Fisheries Boards North and South as well as the ESB and exemplifies the high level of cross-Border cooperation on inland fisheries matters generally.
