Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:815 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the reason a salmon angler who uses the rod and reel method to fish, cannot sell their catch the same as a drift net fisherman. [16217/02]
Written Answers. - Fisheries Protection.
The Salmon and Sea Trout Caught by Rod and Line (Prohibition on Sale) Order, 2001, provides for a prohibition, from 1 January to 31 October in each year, on the sale of salmon or sea trout caught by rod and line. The order applies throughout the seven fisheries regions of the State. The ban on the sale of rod-caught salmon, which has the support of all the major salmon angling associations, was part of a package of measures to conserve and improve salmon stocks introduced by my predecessor on the advice of the National Salmon Commission. There is a range of measures in place in respect of both recreational and commercial fishing which are designed to conserve salmonid stocks. The National Salmon Commission is currently undertaking a review of the effectiveness of these measures and will advise me, in due course, with a view to their continuation for the 2003 season.
Michael Ring
Ceist:816 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will investigate the larger fishing vessels entering a bay (details supplied) in County Mayo and destroying the crab pots of local fishermen; the action which can be taken to safeguard the pots of local fishermen; and if these fishermen will be compensated for the damage done. [16284/02]
There is an agreed code of practice, under the aegis of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, to regulate the shared use of the fishery off the north Mayo coast for both static and towed fishing gear. This code of practice specifically includes a mechanism for dealing with damage caused by larger fishing vessels.