Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 5

Written Answers. - Salmon Stocks.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

89 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the plans, if any, he has to counteract the current deadline of salmon stocks in the Boyne catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28011/98]

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

90 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the communications, if any, he has had with the Department of the Environment and Local Government, arising from the implementation of the Boyne catchment monitoring and management system to address the depletion of salmon stocks in the Boyne catchment area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28012/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together.

Representatives from the Eastern Regional Fishery Board and the Central Fishery Board are on the local catchment group and the steering committee of the Boyne catchment monitoring and management system. These representatives are particularly concerned with fisheries interests and keep my Department informed of developments.

In relation to the decline in salmon stocks in the Boyne, my priority is to continue to progress my conservation and management strategies for the salmon resource. The impact of the conservation measures which I renewed for 1998 has been to effectively reduce the commercial salmon season to the months of June and July. I am assessing the conservation measures needed for 1999 in light of trends this year, with particular reference to concerns about the state of spring salmon stocks. The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board along with others has been asked for its advice on salmon conservation measures in 1999.

I have provided funding in 1999 to progress a tagging and quota scheme in order to achieve real time management of salmon stocks on a shared resource basis, and I have announced the establishment of a National Salmon Management Commission which will have a key role in delivering this new regime and all the related decisions underpinning that approach.