Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014
271. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will reverse the decision to close the River Suir indefinitely to snap net fishermen from 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28531/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the Salmon Conservation Limit (CL) in any river is the number of spawning salmon required to maintain a sustainable population and is used to indicate the number of salmon in a river system above which a harvestable surplus can be considered. Salmon conservation limits are set similarly for all of Ireland’s salmon rivers. The main criteria used are the size of the river (wetted area) and the latitude. In addition factors specific to each river are used such as the proportion of one sea winter salmon and multi sea winter salmon in the population and the average weight of these salmon. Other inputs to calculating conservation limits nationally are proportions of male and female salmon and the average numbers of eggs per female fish.
The independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) for Salmon revised the conservation limits for all rivers for the 2013 scientific advice. The SSC advice for the Suir for 2013 was that the river was meeting its CL and had a surplus of 2,371 salmon. On the basis of this advice a Snap net fishery was open, although with a restricted season to facilitate rational exploitation for the smaller surplus of Salmon in that river.
The SSC advice for the Suir for 2014 was that the river was below its CL and had a deficit of 2,449 salmon. The opening of a Snap net fishery on the River Suir can only be considered if there is a suitable surplus of salmon (in excess of conservation limit) available for harvest. Any future decision on a fishery can only be taken in the context of the river being above its conservation limit. Ireland must be particularly careful to ensure that all national and international legislation and other obligations are met in any future management regime.
