Michael Ring
Ceist:155 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the number of tags which can be allocated at any one time by the fisheries board to an applicant for the wild salmon carcass tagging scheme. [17062/01]
Written Answers. - Fish Tagging Scheme.
Under the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations, 2000 – S.I. No. 256 of 2000, provision is made in law for the issue of tags to holders of salmon rod, commercial fishing and dealer's licences. In the case of rod licence holders, tags are made available in lots of five except in the case of one day licence holders to whom tags are made available in lots of three. In the case of commercial licence holders, the regulations provide for an initial issue of a number of tags which is equivalent to at least 50% of the licence holder's last annual catch. The regulations also provide for further issues of tags subject only to compliance with the regulations. In the case of dealers the regulations provide for the issue of tail tags to dealers in respect of imported fish. There is no maximum limit on the number of tags which may be issued to any individual licence holder.
Operational responsibility for the tagging scheme rests with the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. The central board, which has a co-ordinating role, informs me that all regional boards are making considerable efforts to ensure that any licence holder requiring tags receives them as quickly as possible.