Bernard Allen
Ceist:134 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason fish tagging has not taken place in the past three years in accordance with the task force report published in 1996. [8539/02]
Written Answers. - Fisheries Protection.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:135 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the arrangements which have been put in place to implement the task force recommendations on the introduction of tagging and quota which were published in 1996; and if he is implementing the recommendation that draft and driftnet anglers would receive 64% of the quota. [8540/02]
Bernard Allen
Ceist:136 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he proposes to move to a localised catchment management system for fish stock conservation in the interest of all sectors in the fishing industry, as recommended by the task force report published in 1996. [8541/02]
Bernard Allen
Ceist:137 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the steps he has taken to implement the salmon task force recommendations 1996-97; and the recommendations which have already been implemented. [8542/02]
Bernard Allen
Ceist:138 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the reason fish counters have not been put in place in all rivers in accordance with the task force report published in 1996. [8543/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 to 138, inclusive, together.
Immediately on coming into office in January 2000, I moved quickly to take effective measures to ensure that the national salmon resource is managed in a sustainable way for the benefit of all legitimate stakeholders. The report of the salmon management task force 1996 is a key document that has informed my consideration of this matter.
One of the key recommendations of the task force was the establishment of a national commission involving representatives of all interests in salmon. In March 2000 I established, on a statutory basis, the National Salmon Commission to assist and advise me in respect of the management of the national salmon resource. I asked the commission to give me urgent advice on the introduction of a carcass tagging scheme for salmon. Subsequently, on the advice of the commission, I introduced the tagging scheme commencing on 1 January 2001. The purpose of this scheme is to provide a verifiable count of the catch by all sectors.
Following further advice from the commission I introduced a prohibition on the sale of salmon caught by rod and line and a bag limit of one salmon per angler per day until 31 May in each year.
Commercial fishing for salmon is permitted only within six nautical miles of the baseline and within the set season for each type of fishing engine. Within the season there are restrictions relating to the days and times of fishing operations and the types of fishing gear that may be used. Furthermore, the number of licences that may be issued by the regional fisheries boards for the various types of fishing engines is limited by the provisions of the Control of Fishing for Salmon Orders. This effort limitation regime is in line with the recommendations of the task force.
Another of the recommendations of the task force was the introduction of a total allowable catch for the taking of salmon and it recommended that this be set at 900 tonnes in 1997 and that this be shared in the proportions of 64% to the drift net fishery, 18% to other commercial fishing engines and 18% to the recreational rod fishery. However, it is clear from the scientific advice from the Marine Institute, based on latest stock assessment data, that reductions in overall fishing effort are now required in order to sustain and rebuild salmon stocks.
Informed by the scientific advice, I recently announced a number of management measures in relation to the commercial fishing sector in 2002 and beyond. These measures include: (a) the introduction of fishery district quotas for the taking of salmon by all commercial fishing engines to deliver a percentage reduction over catches in the baseline years of 1997 to 2001; (b) a review of the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order is under way by a subgroup of the National Salmon Commission working with my Department and the fisheries boards. The review is examining the changes needed to deliver significant rationalisation of categories and numbers of commercial fishing licences. Subject to the emerging advice, any changes will be put in place for the 2003 season; (c) in the context of the introduction of district quotas for commercial fishing engines I am prepared to consider in principle some adjustment in the current effort limitation measures for 2002. In particular, I will positively review the case for the introduction of safety days as requested by the sector itself; (d) a review of the case for standardising the length of offshore drift nets from 732 metres and 1,372 metres to a standard 1,000 metres in all districts.
I have also raised with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the concerns of fishermen regarding seal predation on salmon stocks.
The National Salmon Commission has unanimously adopted my proposals for the introduction of fishery district quotas to be administered through the salmon tagging scheme. My Department is currently consulting the commission regarding the necessary changes to the regulatory framework for the tagging scheme. I have also mandated the chief executives of the fisheries boards to meet with the representatives of the commercial salmon fishing sector to discuss the practical administrative arrangements for the tagging and quota system for the coming season. Moreover, I have asked that the means of sharing the quota in each fishery district among the various kinds of commercial fishing engines be developed also in this context and in consultation with local BIM development officials.
It is my intention that the scientific model for analysis of salmon stocks will continue to be refined in the light of data relating to marine survival, catches, spawning escapement and habitat. A key element of this approach is the installation and operation of fish counters on salmon index rivers. The Marine Institute informs me that, in co-operation with other stakeholders, it has installed counting systems on 22 rivers since 1995. My Department is currently working with the Marine Institute and the fisheries boards to ensure that the operational, data management and quality assurance issues related to the counter programme are addressed in order to allow for the scientific model to be refined.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:139 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources if he has received a request from the National Drift and Draft Netmen's Association for a meeting to discuss fish conservation and the movement to quotas; and if so, when that meeting will take place. [8544/02]
I am not aware of a request for a meeting from this particular association. However, if the association wishes to contact my office, an appropriate opportunity could be arranged.