Vol. 497 No. 5
83 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has for a possible buy out of salmon fishing licences; his views on this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25699/98]
My immediate policy priority is to continue to progress the salmon conservation and management strategies which I put in place this year in order to ensure the survival and restoration of salmon stocks in their own right and in the interests of all legitimate stakeholders in the resource. A key component of those strategies is the move to the catchment management approach. This will enable the local requirements and concerns of commercial and recreational fishermen in specific catchments to be addressed through participation and involvement in conservation and development plans for the resource.
Within that framework, and while there are no plans at present for the Exchequer to permanently buy out commercial salmon licences, I am keeping under review a range of options and proposals for encouraging commercial salmon fishermen to reduce netting activity, with the support and involvement of fishery owners.
