Enda Kenny
Ceist:106 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason he has not offered a set aside policy for drift net licence holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4877/02]
Written Answers. - Fishing Licences.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:107 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the way in which quota allocations for 2001-2002 were determined for salmon drift net licence holders in the Ballina and Bangor Board areas of County Mayo; if he will revise this on the basis of more accurate figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4878/02]
Enda Kenny
Ceist:108 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason he has refused to offer voluntary buy-out schemes to drift net licence holders in the Ballina board area of north County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4879/02]
Michael Ring
Ceist:113 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he will introduce a voluntary buy-out of licences for salmon fishermen in conjunction with a set aside payment for fishermen who would not fish their licence for a number of years but still held onto their licence and a correct and workable quota for the remainder of the fishermen who want to continue fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 to 108, inclusive, and 113 together.
I am committed to a sustainable commercial salmon fishery based on quality and value rather than volume. Taking all factors into account, however, it remains my firm policy objective to reduce the commercial salmon catch while enhancing the price dividend for fishermen through quality and marketing strategies.
The Marine Institute has been intensively working on the latest stock assessment data for the fishery districts. The detailed analysis and advice has been presented to my Department and the National Salmon Commission. It is clear from the scientific advice that reductions in overall fishing effort are required in order to sustain and rebuild salmon stocks on a district basis.
I have recently announced the introduction of quotas for the taking of salmon by commercial fishing engines on a fishery district basis. The quota system will come into operation for the 2002 and later fishing seasons.
I have requested the National Salmon Commission to respond to me on the overall shape of this scheme and I have also mandated the chief executives of the regional fisheries boards to finalise the detailed practical arrangements for its operation through the licence and tagging regime as quickly as possible.
The introduction of district quotas to reduce the level of commercial catch this year will not be accompanied by compensation. I have spelled out my reservations about national buy-out as a cost efficient workable instrument. It is clear that buy-out is most attractive to those who take few salmon. It is not an effective means of achieving our shared objective of a restoration of salmon stocks.
Accordingly, I am ruling out buy-outs as the way forward. Focus on this issue has been an unhelpful distraction and the raising of expectations about bonanzas has not served the interests of the sector or indeed the resource. The introduction of quota to achieve catch reductions is in my view the best instrument available to achieve the agreed objective for salmon stocks.
I will continue to support, subject to available Exchequer funding, local catchment based setaside proposals with matching funding. In other words, the only context for incentivisation schemes will still be through an agreed local scheme involving commercial fishermen and all other stakeholders who stand to benefit from increased escapement. I have urged local groups and the regional fisheries boards to develop proposals.