Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2010
442 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when Castlemaine Harbour, County Kerry, will be opened to salmon fishermen; his plans to open other fisheries in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22920/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to open Castlemaine Harbour to licensed commercial fishing this year. The fisheries board will, however, oversee a pilot fishery operating in a particular area of Castlemaine Harbour, permitted under section 18 of the Fisheries Act 1980 (No. 1 of 1980).
The pilot will be operated to determine how a salmon fishery could be operated on salmon stocks in the harbour, making the most of the opportunities for commercial fishing while ensuring that at-risk stocks are not compromised and surplus stocks are not over-exploited.
Details of the fifty rivers which are open for salmon harvest in 2010 can be found in the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations, 2009 (S.I. No. 557, 2009), a copy of which can be downloaded from the Department's website (www.dcenr.gov.ie).
