I received a document from the Irish Fishermen's Organisation entitled, Safety Aspects of Salmon Fishing Regulations. This document calls for the introduction of safety days which are explained as extra days which would be allowed at the end of the drift net fishing season to compensate fishermen for days during June and July when fishing is not possible due to bad weather.
The drift net fishing season for salmon is limited to the months of June and July on a four days per week basis. This season was introduced as part of the range of salmon conservation measures made following publication of the report of the salmon management task force in 1996. As part of the package, the prohibition on the use of monofilament nets was lifted.
The case made for the introduction of safety days is to remove the pressure on salmon fishermen to go out in adverse weather conditions. However, I am aware that other interests would take the view that this would in effect amount to an extension of the drift net fishing season and an increase in the level of commercial fishing effort.
The proposal of the IFO is made in the context of the introduction of the national wild salmon tagging scheme which commenced in January of this year. The tagging scheme is designed as a means of counting the catch of fish by all sectors to inform the development of policy on the wild salmon resource which remains in a vulnerable state.
I have asked my Department to examine the IFO proposal taking all perspectives into account, and I invite the National Salmon Commission to let me have analysis and advice on the proposal. The commission is representative of all the stakeholders in salmon, including the commercial and angling sectors.