Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 May 2005
200 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the extent to which salmon, sea trout, brown and rainbow trout stocks have fluctuated in the past ten years; the measures taken or proposed to ensure the adequacy of stock for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14814/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the conservation and management of salmon, sea trout, brown trout and rainbow trout stocks rests with the central and regional fisheries boards. It has not been possible within the time available to gather the relevant information sought by the Deputy from the boards. I have however asked the chief executive officer of the central fisheries board to compile a full report on the status of these stocks over the period mentioned and to forward this directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
202 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the nature of the discussions he has had with the various salmon fishing interests with particular reference to conservation needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14816/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have met with various fishing interests on a broad range of issues. The National Salmon Commission, however, is a statutory body established by the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1999, which includes representatives of the commercial salmon fishing sector, the angling sector and other relevant stakeholders. The commission assists and advises me, as Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, on the conservation, management, protection and development of the national salmon resource. It also makes recommendations to me in relation to the management, development and conservation of stocks of wild salmon or sea trout, the tagging of such fish and the setting of a national total allowable catch and quotas for the taking of salmon, in consultation with the fisheries boards, the Marine Institute and other such bodies.
Since 2002, the Government has implemented a strategy to ensure, through progressive reductions in the commercial salmon catch, that the conservation limits recommended by the National Salmon Commission are being reached. This policy of promoting the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling has delivered significant overall catch reductions aimed at achieving the Government's prime objective of restoration of salmon stocks. I met with and heard the views of the stakeholder members of the commission in February at the time when they finalised consideration of their recommendations on the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme for 2005. I also received submissions from various salmon fishing interests in response to the public consultation exercise on the tagging scheme regulations.
The term of office for the outgoing National Salmon Commission ended on 25 March 2005 and I intend to appoint a new membership in the near future. In response to my invitation, I have received submissions from numerous bodies and organisations which have declared an interest in being considered for membership of the new commission and in doing so have set out their views on the wild salmon fishery. I will be asking the new salmon commission to progress, as an immediate priority of national policy, the specific recommendation made by the outgoing commission to align the exploitation of salmon on the scientific advice by 2007. In particular, I will be asking the new commission to advise me as to how best these recommendations can be implemented, bearing in mind the primary requirement to ensure the future biological viability of the salmon resource in all catchments and also the needs of all stakeholders, including those who derive their living from the wild salmon resource.
