Vol. 484 No. 4
12 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will withdraw the application forms for exclusive five year licences on Central Fisheries Board waterways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22324/97]
The management of State owned fisheries is the responsibility of the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. However, I am glad to have this opportunity, in light of expressed concerns, to clarify for the House the practice and the process involved. It has been the long-standing practice of the Central Fisheries Board to offer the fishing rights on a number of State owned fishing stretches, which include Land Commission fisheries, to the public in a tendering process. Tender applications are invited in the press for licences to hold the fishing rights for periods of between one to five years.
It is a stated objective of the Central Fisheries Board to maximise the opportunities for local management and development of all such fisheries. In line with this objective, it is the case that over the years the majority of these State owned fishing rights are licensed to local angling clubs and not, as intimated, to exclusive private interests. There is no question at any time of "selling off" State owned fishing rights or fisheries. The tendering and licensing process to which the Deputy refers is designed to assist the management, conservation and development of State owned fisheries to their full potential, having full regard for local interests and concerns.
I previously announced my intention to move to a catchment management approach which involves and empowers all players in decision making at local community level. The Central and Regional Fisheries Boards are committed to driving that policy objective forward and I have already announced six pilot catchment projects by the boards which will, in a practical way, inform overall catchment management strategies. By bringing together all users to discuss and progress local strategies, the catchment management approach will ensure that concerns such as those being voiced about the management of State owned fisheries are addressed in an open way and that consensus on future directions for local fisheries can be achieved.
Will the Minister outline the position on the different areas on offer. I understand that in some areas, anglers who would have fished particular stretches of river over a number of years will now have to contact up to 12 different people if they want to continue fishing these stretches. That will create major problems because it will prevent local anglers, as well as tourists, fishing stretches of river they have fished for numerous years. Previously, these anglers' licences gave them fishing rights but they will now have to make contact with the contract owners of the different stretches of river. This will cause major problems for people pursuing their pastime.
I will give the Deputy a general answer about the way the Central Fisheries Board and the regional fisheries boards operate. A separate question has been tabled — I do not have it to hand at the moment — about the River Robe in particular which is perhaps the one to which the Deputy refers. It was discovered that one area belonged to the Land Commission which was included with the other State controlled rivers, and similar offers were made for it. The local angling clubs frequently take up that option and that ensures the proper development of the rivers.
This matter was raised in the House previously and no action will be taken in relation to it. No tenders were submitted in any event. The fisheries board, at my request, will meet local Deputies directly interested and who spoke about this matter on the Adjournment, and it will consider how this should be developed. The specific issue will be dealt with in reply to another question which has been tabled.
Apart from the River Robe, how many tenders have been received for the other stretches of waterway, some of which are in the Leinster area, and was there any foreign contact in relation to same?
I do not have that specific information but my understanding is that where it applies, that procedure is used extensively. It is normally local people, particularly the local angling clubs, who take up the offers. Some of the licences could be five years old because they are given for periods of one to five years. It is just a lease over that period.
