Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 April 2004
11 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the proposed quota allocation for the commercial netting of wild salmon for this summer; and the other tagging and quota arrangements he intends to put in place. [10309/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI rely upon the advice of the National Salmon Commission and the regional fisheries boards' managers in determining the terms of the wild salmon and sea-trout tagging scheme, which inter alia sets out district quotas for the commercial catch.
Having recently completed its review of the effectiveness of the scheme for 2003, the National Salmon Commission has proposed, as part of its considered advice, that the total allowable commercial catch of salmon for the 2004 season should not exceed 161,951 fish. This represents an 11% reduction on the commercial catch in 2003.
I am advised that the Salmon Commission tendered its recommendation based on the advice of its own standing scientific committee and that the proposed total allowable commercial catch is consistent with its recommendation of last year that a three-year strategy should be put in place aimed at reaching the scientific advice on precautionary catch limits over the period 2003-2005.
The revised regulations also provide for the allocation of safety days for the snap net sector; the recording of additional information in the commercial logbooks in the case where fish are retained by the fisherman for domestic consumption; and the requirement for anglers to obtain proof of postage when returning tags and logbooks, which is included in an effort to improve the percentage of logbook returns by anglers.
On 5 March 2004, my Department published a draft of the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme regulations which incorporate the revised quotas and other proposed changes recommended by the National Salmon Commission and the regional fisheries boards' managers for the operation of the tagging scheme this year.
The draft regulations have been published in accordance with the requirements of the Fisheries Acts, which provide for a 30 day period during which interested parties have an opportunity to submit any objections they may have. This period expires on 4 April 2004. Following consideration of any objections received, I expect to make a final decision on the scheme as soon as possible after that date.
