Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2005
200 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the situation regarding holders of salmon angling licences; if there is a restriction on the number of fish they can catch in one season; if so, the reason for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6522/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe conservation of salmon and sea trout by-law, No. 797 of 2004, provides for a bag limit of one fish, a salmon or sea trout, per angler per day from 1 January to 31 May, and three fish per angler per day from 1 June to the end of the fishing season, subject to a total allowable catch of 20 fish per year. The measure to restrict the number of fish that can be caught in one season was first introduced as a conservation measure in 2002 on the recommendations of the national salmon commission.
201 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to contact directly the stakeholders that would benefit from increased numbers of salmon entering rivers here to establish the contribution they would be prepared to make towards a commercial drift net salmon fishing licence buy-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6568/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans to introduce proposals to purchase commercial drift net salmon fishing licences. The Government has consistently ruled out buy-out as an effective means of achieving the restoration of salmon stocks and has instead, since 2002, promoted the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling to achieve catch reductions as the best instrument available to achieve this objective. Moreover, no convincing case has been advanced as to the public good that would be acquired by the State in the context of a publicly funded buy-out.
As I have previously indicated to the House, I am prepared to keep the matter under review. I would be open to any relevant proposals presented to me whereby stakeholders benefiting from any reduction in commercial catch would identify themselves and indicate a willingness to fund any compensation that might arise.
