Vol. 547 No. 1
144 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to introduce salmon quotas in 2002; if such quotas will be based on scientific surveys carried out on salmon stocks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1768/02]
The decision to introduce quotas in the commercial salmon fishery on a fishery district basis has been informed by catch data, stock trends and scientific advice from the Marine Institute together with the input of the National Salmon Commission and the regional fisheries boards. The overall district quota will be set by reference to the scientific advice for stocks in the catchments and other relevant factors. Depending on the state of stocks the quota for each district will be set to deliver a percentage reduction over catches in recent years. The quota will be administered and enforced by the regional fisheries boards through the tagging scheme. I have mandated the chief executives of the fisheries boards to finalise the detailed practical arrangements for the operation of the quota scheme as quickly as possible.
