Vol. 574 No. 1
169 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of fish counters which have been installed on Irish rivers over the past five years; the location and monitoring procedures that are in place for these counters; the State bodies responsible for the introduction and management of these counters; and the future plans his Department has regarding the introduction of new counting mechanisms. [26338/03]
The scientific model for analysis of salmon stocks continues 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 overall management of the national fish counter programme has, to date, been primarily the responsibility of the Marine Institute, which has operated the programme directly or by subcontracting where necessary in order to maintain its objectives.
I am advised that since 1995 the Marine Institute, in conjunction with the Regional Fisheries Board, fishery owners, engineers from my Department and consultants, has installed 22 fish counting systems on the following Irish salmon and sea trout rivers: Dee, Boyne, Liffey, Slaney, Suir, Bandon, Kerry Blackwater, Laune, Waterville, Feale, Casla, Gowla, Invermore, Erriff, Moy, Ballysadare, Garravogue, Eany, Eske and Dungloe. It is planned to develop and install additional counting systems in the rivers Bunowen, Cork Blackwater, Corrib and Munster Blackwater in the future.
The Marine Institute has maintained a national database of fish counts since the programme commenced in the mid 1990s and currently collates all counter data both remotely via modem and directly by means of direct download of data. During the season, fish count data is downloaded and compiled into monthly reports which are made available to the central and regional fisheries boards, members of the standing scientific committee of the National Salmon Commission and relevant fishery owners/managers. Many of these counts are available on-line to the general public via the Marine Institute's website.
Arrangements in respect of the operational, data management and quality assurance issues are currently being finalised by my Department for the fish counter management programme to be carried out by the regional fisheries boards in partnership with the Marine Institute in 2004.
Question No. 170 answered with Question No. 165.
Question No. 171 answered with Question No. 142.
