Vol. 489 No. 3
14 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, his Department has to implement the recommendations of the salmon management task force regarding a national salmon management commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8077/98]
Last month I launched the technical report by the Marine Institute into the practical implementation of the quota based salmon management system recommended by the salmon task force. I used that occasion to set out in detail my policy for the salmon resource, which is designed to bring about incremental strategic change in conservation and management in the interests of the salmon resource and the legitimate interests in that resource.
I am committed to moving ahead on our ambitious agenda for salmon, this year and beyond. My priority is to ensure that salmon and salmon habitats are protected and conserved in the face of a wide variety of threats to their viability. This priority is set in the context of a comprehensive programme of strategies which aim to deliver on the management, development and information needs of the resource in a cost efficient and effective way.
I have stressed that progress will require the continued confidence and co-operation of all sides and acknowledgement that the process of change is an incremental one. The report, which I published last month and which has been circulated widely, is a practical contribution to the work of progressing the next phase of new salmon management strategies. There are a number of actions under way on this front, along with the process of consultation and feedback on the time-table and resource implications of the quota and tagging regime which are set out in detail in the report.
Within that framework of action, which includes my review of organisational change in the inland fisheries service, I am currently considering the institutional, legal and funding aspects of the move to a tagging and quota regime and realtime management. In that context, I will assess the task force recommendation for a national salmon management commission, which would set national quotas with scientific advice, provide a forum for all players to contribute to salmon management and facilitate fishery management plans at catchment level.
I will bring proposals to Government during the year on a new organisational management framework for fisheries generally, including the proposed commission, the legislative and struc-tural change required and the related financial and human resource implications.
I thank the Minister for his detailed reply, although I am not sure he answered the question I asked. As chairman of the statutory committee dealing with this matter, with my two Fine Gael colleagues and the Minister of State, Deputy Hugh Byrne, I was privileged to examine that report in great detail over a lengthy period of time. One of the main recommendations related to the appointment of a commission, as contained in the document to which the Minister referred. Does the Minister intend to set up a commission to co-ordinate activities relating not only to management but also to tagging? The Minister answered the other questions I raised on this subject.
I do not know if the Deputy heard me but I said I will be assessing the task force recommendations for a national salmon management commission which would set national quotas, give scientific advice and so on. The role of the commission would be to ensure a co-ordinated approach to salmon management by all the bodies involved. Some of the elements will have to be progressed before that is done. The commission will have broad responsibility, including approval of catchment fishery management plans, setting and monitoring national total allowable catch, approval and monitoring of adjustments and to act as a forum for all the players in salmon management. At present we are trying to develop the other elements so that the commission can be set up. I am anxious to proceed with that as early as possible.
When the Minister sets up the commission, which he indicated he is considering, will he ensure there are representatives not alone from the driftnet sector but from all the activities involved in salmon fishing?
By setting up a specific commission there will be an opportunity for involvement by all the stakeholders and that is my intention. Various people will be involved representing the central and regional fisheries boards, the Maritime Institute, the Department and all the stakeholders in the salmon resource, without whom the commission would be meaningless.
