Vol. 550 No. 2
101 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if the ESB eel survey has been completed; his plans to conserve eel stocks in the Shannon river catchments; the progress which the eel fishery review group has made on issues relating to the development and regulation of the sector; if all the key players in the sector were invited to participate in the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8019/02]
Under the Fisheries Acts, the day-to-day management of the eel fishery, including the issue of eel fishing licences, is a matter for the regional fisheries boards. The ESB, in exercise of its powers under the Shannon Fisheries Acts, operates an ongoing eel management programme on the River Shannon.
In 2000 the ESB published a report prepared by the National University of Ireland, Galway, entitled Eel Fishing in the River Shannon: Eel Population Changes, Fishery Management Options and Fishery Conservation Issues, which reviewed the research and development work undertaken during the ESB Shannon eel management programme between the years 1992 and 2000.
The ESB report is one of a number of documents published in recent years which provide a background of research and management proposals relating to the eel resource. At present, my Department is reviewing the way forward for the future development and regulation of the eel resource and, in that context, the question of establishing an eel fishery review group will be addressed.
