Vol. 481 No. 1
72 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the total catch for each of the areas to which an extension applied following his decision to extend the salmon season to 7 August for draft fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15621/97]
As I advised in my reply of 30 September, I received numerous requests this summer for extensions to the commercial fishing season in various regions around the coast. Having carefully considered all the submissions made to me, the advice of relevant regional fisheries boards and the scientific assessments by the central fisheries board and the Marine Institute, as well as the particular local circumstances, I decided, as an exceptional measure, to grant a limited number of extensions, including the draftnet fisheries in the north-western fisheries region, the Rivers Cashen-Feale, and the Waterford fisheries district. This effectively allowed draft fishermen in the areas up to five days additional fishing time.
The three regional fisheries boards concerned are in the process of compiling catch statistics for the season and have been requested to disaggregate the draftnet catch information requested by the Deputy from the registers of licensed salmon dealers. I will forward the data to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
