Drift Nets

[GETHYN THOMAS]

Seem to have lost my details.

From Niall Greene Chair Stop Now
On a majority vote the National Salmon Commission agreed yesterday to recommend to the Minister for the Marine that mixed stock fishing for salmon (ie all drift netting and some draft netting) should cease at the end of the 2006 season. The commission also recommended to the Minister that there should be a system of compensation introduced for those leaving the sector. In addition, there will be some additional limitations on anglers - a reduction from 20 to 15 in the number of tags available to anglers annually and a limitation of one fish per angler per day in September
The cessation of drift netting from the end of 2006 is in line with the advice of the Standing Scientific Committee of the Commission (although it is arguable that they would have preferred an immediate end with no drift netting in 2006) and of the National Fishery Management Executive, whose advice the Minister has always followed in the past.

The anglers group on the Commission deserve great credit for shepherding this decision through the Commission.

This is not necessarily the end of drift netting. The Minister still has to make his decision on the advice he is being given by the Commission and effectively he has until the end of March to do so. Legally he need only make decisions about the salmon fishing regime for 2006 and could duck the 2007 issue. It is important, therefore, pressure is maintained to get a comprehensive set of decisions from Minister Noel Dempsey so that arrangements can be put ion place for the orderly management of the fishery in the post drift netting era - there is still a lot to be done to restore salmon to abundance.

Niall Greene

Chair

Stop Now

[GETHYN]

1st March

Irish Times



The National Salmon Commission (NSC), a Government-appointed body, has voted by the narrowest of margins to recommend the end of salmon driftnet fishing from the end of the year.



The majority findings of the commission, chaired by former Irish Fishermen's Organisation leader Joey Murrin, has provoked anger from driftnet fishermen.



Alhough the Government is not formally bound to accept the recommendations, it is expected that it will implement them. Under the plan, presented to Minister of State for the Marine John Browne yesterday, "the indiscriminate exploitation of mixed salmon stocks" will finish at the end of the 2006 season.



The Government will have to introduce a compensation scheme in 2007, although several weeks of negotiations between the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the commercial fishermen lie ahead.



For the 2006 season, the driftnet fishermen will have 91,000 tonnes of the 106,000-tonne total catch recommended by the commission, with the rest going to rod-and-line anglers in the State's rivers and lakes.



Ireland is the last country in western Europe to sanction open-sea driftnetting, despite long-standing charges by conservationists that the practice has decimated salmon stocks.



Five years ago the total quota was set at 219,000 tonnes. The fishing season has been dramatically cut in the same period from four months to just 32 days a year.



In a three-page letter to Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey and Mr Browne, Mr Murrin said "protracted negotiations" had occurred during Monday's meeting.



"The advice of the NSC is based on a majority decision and the recommendations which follow arise from a vote of nine in favour, eight against and abstentions," he wrote.



Anglers should be "strongly encouraged" to release salmon, while a limit of 15 fish per angler for 2006 should be introduced, although anglers should be entitled to one fish per day in September, subject to local conditions.



In a minority report, commercial fishing representatives sitting on the NSC said they could not agree to an end of driftnetting "without having before us a comprehensive package".



The commercial ban may increase the price of smoked wild Irish salmon since it will no longer be available in commercial quantities.

Mark Hennessy

© The Irish Times

[wnion]

Govt continues to dither as salmon stocks dwindle - McHugh

Written By: Sinéad Fennell
On Date: 23/3/2006

FG 5-point plan will address dire state of our salmon stocks and our angling tourism industry The continued lack of action from the Marine Minister on the deteriorating state of our wild salmon industry is causing environmental damage and economic hardship in fishing communities according to Fine Gael Seanad Marine Spokesperson, Senator Joe McHugh. He made his call as members of the Irish Traditional Netsmen Association marched on Leinster House today.

“The Government and the newly-appointed Minister Browne have issued statement after statement on the environmental and economic difficulties the current situation is causing. Yet, to date, it has still not set up a compensation scheme and fishing communities and salmon stocks continue to suffer.

“Fine Gael published its five point plan to protect salmon stocks and to encourage the re-development of angling tourism, Salmon Charter – Sustaining our Salmon Stocks*, last January. A plan which is an honest attempt to take decisive action that, thus far, the Government has failed to take.

“Fine Gael’s proposals include:

§ Establishing a voluntary compensation scheme for salmon netsmen. These schemes will involve commercial netsmen being compensated to either stop fishing indefinitely, or to set-aside their nets for three years. Payments would be tax free, and will result in a reduction in the Total Allowable Catch commensurate with the quota allocated to the netsman availing of the scheme;
§ Empowering Sea Fishery Officers to police inland waterways and administer the new scheme;
§ Taking concerted, cross-departmental action on water pollution that is damaging salmon stocks;
§ Instructing the National Salmon Commission to address the commercial development of Irish salmon, and enhance our national brand;
§ Respecting and adhering to the advice of our scientists on this vital issue.

“Our policy will provide for a sustainable and profitable future for everybody with an interest in Ireland’s salmon stocks. I recognise that fishing is a traditional way of life for many and we do not intend to force anyone out of this fine tradition. Rather we wish to offer a way out that international experience shows will be taken by the vast majority.

“The longer Minister Browne takes to make his decision, the worse this problem will become. The Government cannot continue to dither around this issue. The Minister must now state whether the Government will now act on scientific advice for 2006, especially as it has consistently ignored the advice of its own scientific advisors to date.”
Full document available on www.finegael.ie

Sinéad Fennell,
Press Officer,
Fine Gael National Press Office,
Dáil Éireann,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2.

Tel: [phone] (Direct)
Fax: [phone] / 3
Mob: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

[wnion]

SALMON DECISION WELCOME BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO SALMON STOCKS AFTER 2006

Written By: Tommy Broughan
On Date: 27/3/2006

STATEMENT BY TOMMY BROUGHAN T.D. LABOUR SPOKESPERSON ON COMMUNICATIONS, MARINE & NATURAL RESOURCES SALMON DECISION WELCOME BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO SALMON STOCKS AFTER 2006?
Labour’s Marine Spokesperson, Deputy Tommy Broughan, has welcomed the historic decision by Marine Minister John Browne to accept scientific advice in relation to salmon stocks for the 2006 season.
Deputy Broughan said, “The Minister announced earlier today that he is to accept the advice of the National Salmon Commission (NSC) and fully align with scientific advice on the management of the wild salmon fishery by 2007. This means that the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in 2006 will be 91,367 for commercial salmon and 15,000 for anglers. The bag limits for anglers will therefore decrease to ten fish per angler.

“However, the NSC by a majority vote decided that single stock management and the cessation of commercial fishing of wild salmon should commence in 2007. But Minister Browne’s announcement is deliberately vague and unclear as to his policy on the means necessary to achieve the ending of commercial driftnetting.

“The establishment of an independent group to examine the impact of these measures on the commercial fishing and angling community and to recommend the necessary compensatory measures is also very welcome. The group will have to estimate the scale of financial losses that this decision will generate for the driftnet industry. Informal estimates put the value of wild salmon alone at around €7 million in income for the families of commercial fishermen.

“The appointees to this group, Padraic White, Professor Tim Collins and John Malone are three eminent individuals. Padraic White was also previously Chairperson of the National Strategy Review Group on the Common Fisheries Policy and headed the recent review of the decommissioning programme for the demersal and shellfish fleets which helped resolve the scallop fishermen dispute.

“The three person expert group will certainly face grave challenges in providing an acceptable final recommendation by August. Serious deficiencies in fishery management such as the lack of counters in the vast majority of our salmon rivers will make this evaluation process very difficult.

“Ministers Browne and Dempsey must now spell out their vision for single stock management of salmon for the 2007 season and urgently bring forward the vital Inland Fisheries Authority legislation.”
ENDS For more information contact Tommy Broughan at 087 288 0777

[wnion]

FISSTA statement:- salmon driftnetting

Written By: EDWARD POWER
On Date: 27/3/2006

Federation of Irish Salmon & Sea Trout Anglers
MINISTER BROWNE APPOINTS ANOTHER COMMISSION AS DRIFTNETS CONTINUE TO DAMAGE SALMON Background: A three-man committee has been appointed by Marine Minister John Browne to recommend how this can be done and how salmon fishermen and coastal communities can be compensated. He said the committee would report to him by August end. He said on RTE News that he had made no recommendation to it on if there would be a voluntary or compulsory buy-out scheme and he would not say if this year would be the last salmon season.



The National Chairman of FISSTA - Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers Mr. Edward Power condemned the Government’s deferral of their decision to end drift netting as the Standing Scientific Committee had recommended to the National Salmon Commission on January 26th 2006. Mr. Power stated that “Minister of State for the Marine, Mr. John Browne TD, had once again and despite the reports from his own scientists, international bodies, the EU, hotel owners and 87% of the driftnets decided to commission yet another report on mixed stock fisheries in Ireland. Three entirely new consultants to the 5 already commissioned in the Farrell Grant Sparks FGS Review of 2003, will take a period of at least 5 months to once again recommend and present advice to the Minister, who may or may not accept it. If the Farrell Grant Sparks Report is any indication of how deadlines have already overrun, it is likely that we might have not have his views before general election time next May 2007, following which, all recommendations will lapse as a new Government takes over as we now know from Mr. Fahey’s broken promises of April 23rd 2002 on the leasing of our state waters.”



Mr. Power asked “ What is the purpose of having a scientific arm in the Marine Dept if in fact the Minister consistently ignores their advice once again – which was to end drift netting activities in June 2006. It is beyond our comprehension why the Minister was prevented from announcing in a clear and unambiguous statement that he would end drift netting in 2007 as appears to have been withdrawn from Dept of Marine website yesterday and as was the condition stipulated by the National Salmon Commission in their recommendations? Where is the urgency that was displayed last April when the scallop boats blocked the Rosslare Harbour as a result of which €45m buyout money was obtained within three weeks by consultant Padraic White? The removal of part of this fleet conferred no benefit on fish stocks or the economy of this state compared to the huge benefit that the removal of drift netting to the environment and our economy. We note the angler allocation is 15,000 fish (which equates with a half a fish per license) and the bag limit is reduced to 10 from 20, with the prohibition of taking fish in September in certain areas further penalises the angler as if we are the cause rather than the victim of this gross mismanagement of our salmon. While we can't entirely blame the Minister for these meaningless restrictions, when one takes into account the fact that two angling nominees of the NSC proposed them. They did so contrary to the FISSTA position on this issue and without any regard for the sport and the industry in that the angling season was already underway and the tourism bookings and licenses had already been bought in many cases for 2006. It will be extremely difficult for angling clubs and providers to recover from this serious blow to their angling tourism business.



Mr Power concluded that: “In essence, it now leaves the Government decision open to what the political climate will be next year prior to the general election in May 2007. This means that no serious salmon restoration can begin in Ireland, England, Wales and EU until 2008 and beyond. FISSTA had warned that the sum total of this Ministerial announcement would result in the provision of an added supply of salmon off our coasts for the commercial sector to kill this season. It now appears that Irish anglers will have to further mobilise the support from our international friends if we are to effect the urgent change that is needed NOW. ends.

[wnion]

To do Nothing is not an Option”

Written By: Orri Vigfusson
On Date: 29/3/2006

The North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) 2006 strongly condemned Ireland’s failure to adopt the conservation measures that scientists say are desperately needed if Europe’s stocks of wild Atlantic salmon are to be restored.
Orri Vigfusson, chairman of the international conservation organisation, said that the refusal of Irish Fisheries Minister John Browne to accept the advice of his National Salmon Commission and announce that Irish drift netting must end in 2007 showed “a deplorable lack of backbone.”

“We know that politicians, unlike leopards, can change their spots but Mr Browne’s ability to change the colour of his views would make a chameleon jealous, “ he said.

“His failure to remember his own words during the period when he was previously in charge of fisheries is frankly unbelievable. In 2003, having read the expensive INDECON report his government had commissioned, he declared: ‘ To do nothing is not an option.’
“Yet that is precisely what he is doing now. Meanwhile, Europe’s stocks of wild salmon and those of Ireland itself are being progressively destroyed by excessive commercial fishing.”

In 2003 the independent report by the international firm of consultants pointed out that the government’s failure to encourage angling was robbing Ireland’s tourist industry of huge amounts of money that should be boosting the rural economy. It said the economic value of a salmon caught on a rod was €423 against a mere €22 if the fish was netted. Yet the commercial nets were being encouraged to take 95% of the total catch.

The reaction from the government was to commission another report. Since then salmon stocks have slumped so badly that, according to the minister’s own fishery scientists, stocks in eight of Ireland’s 17 fishery districts are now so low that every salmon they produce should be allowed to spawn if the salmon runs are to survive.

Many of Ireland’s once-famous salmon rivers are failing to meet conservation targets. To make matters worse the bulk of the salmon heading for the rivers of the UK, France, Spain and Germany must also run the gauntlet of the Irish nets because their return route takes the fish down the Irish coast.


Mr Vigfusson said: “The simple answer to everyone’s problems is a voluntary buyout of the netting licences. Every fisherman who stops salmon fishing must be fairly compensated for his loss of income and helped to find alternative employment, either in other fisheries where the harvest is sustainable or in the opportunities that sport fishing will open up.
“NASF even provided Mr Browne’s predecessor with a blueprint on how it should be done, based on our success in reaching agreements that now protect the salmon almost everywhere else in the Atlantic. But all Mr Browne is prepared to do is to appoint a working party to produce yet another report. It is a classic case of procrastination.
“Unless he has a sudden change of heart he intends to allow the nets to continue plundering the slender stocks that remain, regardless of whether they wipe out the last salmon in many of the rivers in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe.

“My fear is that some members of the Irish government are hoping that salmon stocks will become so low that the netsmen will be driven out of business without compensation. That would be a dreadful way of tackling the crisis.”

The North Atlantic Salmon Fund, NASF, is a coalition of voluntary conservation groups who have come together to restore stocks of wild Atlantic salmon to their historic abundance. For further information telephone [phone] or e-mail [e-mail] www.nasfonline.org

[highplains]

Fellow anglers

After a little search I am pleased to provide the following details:

Irish Embassy
106, Brompton Rd, London, SW3 1JJ
Tel: [phone]

Could not find email address

In Ireland

Contact
Áras an Uachtaráin,
Phoenix Park,
Dublin 8

Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
Lo Call 1890 430 430
Webmaster email : [e-mail]


May I suggest that we all send an email simply saying something like: ban the salmon netting or we will stop visiting Ireland and do all in our power by way of the world wide web to encougarge others to do likewise. We will also do all we can to advertise Ireland's disgrace in this regard. Or something on those lines.

Might be worth a go.

Regards.

Highplains

[Diawlbach]

Well done HP , good post. Surely angling tourism is worth more to the Irish economy than the drift net fisheryever will be.

[highplains]

Diawlbach,

Thanks.

Please send an email to the Irish Goverment at the address shown.

Tight lines

Regards.

Highplains

[wnion]

DRIFTNETTING TO CONTINUE AS ANGLERS HAVE 'HALF SALMON' RESTRICITON IMPOSED

Written By: Noel Carr
On Date: 7/4/2006

Background: Instead of the long awaited announcement of an end to driftnetting by the Irish Government, a three-man 'expert' committee was announced by Marine Minister John Browne to sit for 5 months to produce another report to add to the mountain of reports already in the offices of the Dept of Marine. While many of the press statements gave the impression that the end to driftnetting was imminent, Junior Marine Minister Mr John Browne would not say if this year would be the last salmon season- But the Tourism Minister says that no decision will be taken to end driftnetting as a lot to work has to be done over "the coming year".



There has been much confusion among salmon interests as to what exactly the Minister and Government decided in his announcement last month. Ever since the National Chairman of FISSTA - Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers, Mr. Edward Power condemned the Government’s deferral of their decision to end drift netting, some angling bodies believe that almost, without doubt that driftnetting will close with the 2006 season. Their rationale for this belief is taken from the main statement issued on 24 March in which Minister Browne states that the Government commits itself to “fully align with the scientific advice from the Standing Scientific Committee of the National Salmon Commission”. But this commitment has been made since 2003 and to date has not been honoured.



However, Tourism Minister, John O' Donoghue TD has now further clarified the Government policy for us all when he stated to the Kerryman newspaper on April 6th that "There's still a lot of work to be done over the coming year before any decision will be taken in relation to a ban on driftnetting". So, our worst fears are realised as the reference to "the coming year" will probably mean a second season, which is likely to coincide with the May 2007 General Election. Therefore, it now transpires that more penal restrictions are being imposed on angling without any guarantee that this Government will ever end driftnetting.



Mr Power concluded that: “In essence, it now leaves the Government decision open to whatever the political climate will be next year prior to the general election in May 2007. This means that no serious salmon restoration can begin in Ireland, England, Wales and EU until 2008 and beyond. FISSTA had warned that the sum total of this Ministerial announcement would result in the provision of an added supply of salmon off our coasts for the commercial sector to kill this season. The press statements from the North Atlantic Salmon Fund and our international friends share our concern for the salmon stocks at this time of such wide confusion from Government. ends.

[bobronte]

Folks,

Yes I can see your blood pressure rising about this but on the Ground here you would think the whole netting industry has pictures of the ministers at things they shouldn't be!!

1 major concern is the boycott issue - their good at turning this about face & probably saying well Tourism down we need the fleets!!! beleive me their good at that!

:FOR ALL OUR FELLOW ANGLERS TAKE NOTE:

WHY NOT USE THE FACT THAT YOUR SEATROUT STOCKS FEED OVER HERE AND THE DRIFTERS ARE KILLING YOUR LIVELIHOODS
this is not scare mongering etc.. I fish estuaries etc in the east coast and the trout are definately not ours

GET YOUR ASSEMBLY INTO THIS PRONTO!!
IF THEY HAVE ANY SENSE & R REALISTIC ABOUT DEVELOPING WALES (which they seem to be) SURELY THE POUNDING YOUR STOCKS GET BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH ISLE O' MAN SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN. THEY SHOULD ALSO PUT PRESSURE ON THE N IRELAND MINISTERS ABOUT SEAL COLONIES TOO!
1000+ in 1 BAR MOUTH!!

REMEMBER AS EU MEMBERS INFRIDGING ON YOUR TOURISM ETC COULD HAVE MORE CLOUT !! here's hoping!!

BB

[highplains]

Why not use the power of the forum and all send an email to the Irish Government complaining about the lack of action and saying you will not visit Ireland until the netting is stopped.

Note the Minister of Tourism in Ireland makes many comments but seems not to hurry things along.

A few thousand emails would make them look harder.

Please see my previous posting for the email address.

I suspect our Irish brothers will not be offended, it's their fish stock being slaughtered as well as ours.

Regards.

Highplains

[wnion]

Concern for the Irish Salmon Driftnets:

Written By: The North Atlantic Salmon Fund
On Date: 10/4/2006

Icelandic Members of Parliament Express A group of Icelandic MPs appear to have been fobbed off with evasive answers in Ireland when they expressed concern at the damage Ireland’s huge salmon driftnet fishery is doing to the Atlantic’s stocks of wild salmon.
Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, one of the delegation, said: “Almost everyone agrees these nets are preventing the restoration of wild salmon numbers. But nobody in authority was prepared to say when the netting will be stopped.”
The group, led by the Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament, visited Ireland this week and met many leading Irish parliamentarians. But they failed to get any clear answers whether the Irish government intended to observe its obligations under the EU Habitat Directive and the United Nations Law of the Sea.

The visiting MPs were told that Fisheries Minister Browne, despite promises to the contrary he made in 2003, was expected to ignore warnings from his scientific advisers that if drift netting continued Ireland would be in breach of its international and EU obligations.


The Icelandic delegation met President Mary McAleese, the Speaker of the Dail (Dr. Rory O’ Hanlon) and the Vice Prime Minister (Ms. Mary Harney) as well as leaders of the opposition parties. All the European countries that have salmon rivers, as well as Canada and the US, have urged Ireland to end drift netting immediately.
The Irish nets target mixed stocks of international salmon returning from the oceanic feeding grounds off Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The only reason they can still catch so many fish is that the salmon are protected from commercial fishing in these northern waters.

In order to restore international stocks the fishermen of the far north have agreed not to fish for salmon and have signed commercial conservation agreements that compensate them for their lost income. This is mainly funded by private sector interests under the leadership of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF). For several years NASF has been trying vainly to broker a similar scheme for Ireland.

Wild salmon numbers are rebuilding in regions where NASF agreements are in place. In Iceland, for instance, anglers enjoyed their best salmon catches ever last year. Ireland, on the other hand, endured the worst fishing season since its records began.

Most experts blame this disaster on the drift nets. A decade ago these nets were taking 26% of the all the salmon caught in the European Union. Despite rapidly shrinking stocks in their own rivers, the Irish nets have all but doubled that share in the last few years.

The North Atlantic Salmon Fund, NASF, is a coalition of voluntary conservation groups who have come together to restore stocks of wild Atlantic salmon to their historic abundance. For further information telephone [phone] or e-mail [e-mail] www.nasfonline.org

[wnion]

Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now

Written By: Niall Greene
On Date: 11/4/2006

The following statement has been adopted by the Board of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now: “Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now welcomes the Government’s reaffirmation of its commitment to manage salmon stocks in accordance with scientific advice from 2007. The clear, logical outcome of this commitment is that mixed stock fishing for salmon will end with the 2006 season. This means that all drift netting and some draft netting will cease for good.

In the various statements issued on 24 March the Government commits itself to “fully align with the scientific advice from the Standing Scientific Committee of the National Salmon Commission in 2007”. The Government acknowledges that “if the scientific advice is followed and the precautionary approach fully implemented, then it will have serious implications for drift net fishing”. The Government have set up a three person Expert Working Group on Salmon the purpose of which is to “make recommendations on the options available to address any financial hardship arising for individuals involved in commercial salmon fishing from full compliance with the scientific advice by 2007”.

Given the depressing evidence from the Standing Scientific Committee of a continuing sharp decline in salmon numbers, it is regrettable that the scientific advice is not being followed this year. While welcoming the adoption of a much reduced quota for 2006 catches Stop Now is disappointed that mixed stock fishing will again take place this year and that it will continue to have a major negative impact on endangered rivers. It will postpone for yet another year the rebuilding process for vulnerable stocks.

It is regrettable also that in the interests of clarity and certainty, the Government did not see fit to make an unambiguous statement about the consequences of the decisions they have made. As a result a degree of confusion has been sown among all those with an interest in salmon stocks – anglers, angling clubs, fishery owners, tourist interests and the commercial sector. Among anglers, the seriousness of the Government’s intent is not enhanced by the adoption of petty measures such as the imposition of an annual ten fish limit on angler catches – a limitation which will save no more than about 1,500 salmon nationally in a year in which the drift nets will be allowed to continue to catch 70,000 to 80,000 fish.

The early announcement of a fair scheme of compensation for those who will be required to exit the commercial sector is critical and it is important that the report of the Expert Working Group is delivered no later than the deadline set for it by the Government, end of August 2006. Equity demands that commercial operators be compensated for foregoing the catching of salmon. There is also a practical point that without compensation there is every chance that drift netting will continue illegally. Anglers, angling associations and fishery owners have made clear on many occasions their willingness to contribute appropriately to the cost of any compensation package and no doubt their representative organisations will make proposals to the Expert Working Group in this regard.

The ending of drift netting is an essential but on its own not a sufficient basis for rebuilding salmon stocks and it is important that the Government address as quickly as possible a number of key issues. Particularly urgent is the need to augment protection services both at sea and on land – to ensure that fishing at sea does not continue illegally and that there is not over exploitation in the estuaries, rivers and lakes. In addition, the lack of a single, national policy on the management of our salmon stocks must be addressed with a transition as quickly as possible to single stock management on a river by river basis.

It is important that all those concerned with salmon conservation remain vigilant in monitoring progress on the Government’s commitments. Drift nets have not yet been removed and, although the decisions announced on this occasion appear to be firmer than heretofore, historically Government follow through on salmon management undertakings has been, to put it mildly, poor”.


NOTE ON THE 2006 REPORT OF THE STANDING SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL SALMON COMMISSION

The 2006 report of the its’ Standing Scientific Committee to the National Salmon Commission is the most comprehensive yet produced. It contains a detailed description of the state of salmon stocks and water quality on every salmon bearing river in the country. The full text can be found on www.cfb.ie. The following are some key points taken from the Executive Summary of the report:

“Analysis of the status of district stocks indicates that only four districts are meeting their Conservation Limits consistently (Cork, Kerry, Connemara and Ballinakill). Less than 50% of the Conservation Limit is being attained in eight districts (Sligo, Shannon, Waterford, Dublin, Drogheda, Dundalk, Wexford, Galway). The remaining [five] districts have consistently met over 50% of the Conservation Limit but less than 100% on average. Even in districts which met their Conservation Limits, some individual rivers within the district did not. Recent data suggests that four of seven rivers in Cork did not meet their Conservation Limits. Similarly, four of nine rivers in Kerry, two rivers in Connemara, four of five rivers in Ballinakill, three of five rivers in Bangor, four of six rivers in Ballyshannon and five of ten rivers in Letterkenny failed to meet their Conservation Limits”.

“Mixed stock fisheries [ie drift netting and some draft netting] present particular threats to the status of individual stocks....Thus, the most precautionary way to meet national and international objectives is to operate fisheries on individual river stocks that are shown to be within precautionary limits, ie those stocks which are exceeding their Conservation Limits....Fisheries operated in estuaries and rivers are more likely to fulfil these requirements”

[wnion]

SALMON AND TROUT CONSERVATION BYE-LAW NO. 804, 2006.

Written By: Press Officer
On Date: 26/4/2006

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, MARINE AND NATURAL RESOURCES FISHERIES ACTS 1959 TO 2006
I, John Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 9 (as amended by section 3 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1962 (No. 31 of 1962)) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 (No. 14 of 1959), section 33 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1962, the Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 1977 (S.I. No. 30 of 1977) (as adapted by the Marine and Natural Resources (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2002 (S.I. No. 307 of 2002)) and the Marine (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 82 of 2006), hereby make the following bye-law:

1. (1) This Bye-law may be cited as the Salmon and Trout Conservation Bye-law No. 804, 2006.

(2) This Bye-law comes into operation on 26 April 2006.


2. In this Bye-law -

“draft net” means a single wall of netting attached to a floating head rope and a weighted ground rope, designed so that a bag is formed into which the catch is drafted or hauled, for the purpose of taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout;

“drift net” means a single sheet of netting attached to a floating head rope and a weighted ground rope, designed to drift freely at the surface of waters for the purpose of taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout, to which net or ropes no weights or anchoring devices are attached which in any way hinder or prevent the free movement of the net in those waters;

“Eastern Fisheries Region” means the area mentioned at paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of column (4) opposite reference number 1 in column (1) of the First Schedule to the Fisheries Regions Order 1980 (S.I. No. 324 of 1980) (as amended by the Fishery Regions (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1994 (S.I. No. 208 of 1994) and the Eastern Fisheries Region (Alteration of Boundaries) Order 1999 (S.I. No. 379 of 1999));

“monofilament” means a single filament of synthetic material having a diameter equal to or greater than 0.1 millimetres and which is strong enough to function alone as a yarn for the construction of nets without having to undergo any further processing;

“multistrand monofilament” means filaments of synthetic material, comprised of two or more monofilaments twisted together, where any single filament has a diameter equal to or greater than 0.1 millimetres;

“No. 1 or Dublin District” means the area mentioned at paragraphs (a) and (b) of column (4) opposite reference number 1 in column (1) of the Second Schedule to the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 (No. 14 of 1959) (as amended by paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of column (3) opposite reference number 1 in column (1) of the Schedule of the Fisheries Districts (Alteration of Boundaries) Regulations 1982 (S.I. No. 329 of 1982));

“Cork Harbour” means that part of the sea in a straight line drawn in the direction of Kilcolta Church from the Lighthouse at Roche’s Point on the east to the mainland on the west as defined and marked out on 8 February 1864 by the Special Commissioners for Irish Fisheries appointed and acting under the Salmon Fishery (Ireland) Act 1863;

“other engine” means any fishing engine not being a drift net, a draft net, a snap net or a rod and line, capable of being used for the purpose of taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout;

"sea trout" means the migratory form of Salmo trutta;

“snap net” means a single wall of netting attached to a floating head rope and a weighted ground rope, designed to suspend between two boats and into which the catch is drawn, for the purpose of taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout;

“tidal waters” means -

(a) all the waters of the River Shannon upstream of the mouth of that river as defined and marked out on 8 February 1864 by the Special Commissioners for Irish Fisheries appointed and acting under the Salmon Fishery (Ireland) Act 1863 to the weir or dam known as the Corbally Mill Weir,

(b) all the waters of the River Liffey upstream of the common estuary of the Rivers Dodder and Liffey as defined and marked out on 3 March 1865 by the Special Commissioners for Irish Fisheries appointed and acting under the Salmon Fishery (Ireland) Act 1863 to the weir on the River Liffey known as the Island Bridge Weir;

“Waterford estuary” means all the waters of the Rivers Suir, Nore and Barrow upstream of the common mouth of those rivers as defined and marked out on 8 February 1864 by the Special Commissioners for Irish Fisheries appointed and acting under the Salmon Fishery (Ireland) Act 1863 -

(a) to the line drawn across the River Suir at and opposite to the most upstream part of the Coolnamuck weir,

(b) to Innistiogue Bridge on the River Nore, and

(c) to the lowest weir or dam used for navigation purposes on the River Barrow near St Mullin’s in the county of Carlow.

3. (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law varying the weekly close time, it is prohibited in any fishery district-

(a) to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a drift net, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting, during the period commencing at 6 o’clock a.m. on any Friday and ending at 6 o’clock a.m. on the next following Saturday, or

(b) to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a drift net, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting, between -

(i) 9 o’clock p.m. on any Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, and 4 o’clock a.m. on the next following Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, respectively, or

(ii) 9 o’clock p.m. on any Thursday and 6 o’clock a.m. on the next following Friday.

(2) Paragraph (1)(b) in so far as it applies to taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a drift net, or aiding or assisting in such taking, fishing or attempting, does not apply in -

(a) the tidal waters, or

(b) that part of the No. I or Dublin District outside the tidal waters on or after 30 June 2006.

(3) It is prohibited in that part of the No. 1. or Dublin District outside of the tidal waters, to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a drift net, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing or attempting between 6 o’ clock a.m. and 9 o’ clock p.m. on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday on or after 30 June 2006.


4. (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law varying the weekly close time, it is prohibited to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a draft net, snap net or other engine, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting, in any fishery district during the period commencing at 6 o’clock a.m. on any Monday and ending at 6 o’clock a.m. on the next following Tuesday.

(2) Paragraph (1) in so far as it applies to taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a snap net, or aiding or assisting in such taking, fishing, or attempting, does not apply in the Waterford estuary during the period commencing on 12 June 2006 and ending on 14 August 2006.

5. (1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) and notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law fixing the annual close season for salmon and trout in any locality, it is prohibited to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a drift net, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting, in any fishery district, during the period commencing on the day immediately following the end of the annual close season for salmon and trout and ending on 31 May 2006.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any locality where the annual close season for salmon and trout ends on or after 31 May 2006.

(3) Paragraph (1) in so far as it applies to taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a drift net, or aiding or assisting in such taking, fishing, or attempting, does not apply in the tidal waters.

(4) Paragraph (1), in so far as it applies to taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, sea trout with a drift net, or aiding or assisting in such taking, fishing, or attempting, does not apply in that part of the No. 1 or Dublin District outside of the tidal waters.


6. Notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law fixing the annual close season for salmon and trout in the tidal waters, it is prohibited to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a drift net in the tidal waters, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting in the tidal waters, during the period commencing on the day immediately following the end of the annual close season for salmon and trout and ending on 11 May 2006.


7. Notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law fixing the annual close season for salmon and trout in that part of the No. 1 or Dublin District which is outside of the tidal waters, it is prohibited to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, sea trout with a drift net in the said part of the No. 1 or Dublin District, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting in the said part of the No. 1 or Dublin District, during the period commencing on the day immediately following the end of the annual close season for salmon and trout and ending on 25 April 2006.


8. (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) and notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law fixing the annual close season for salmon and trout in any locality, it is prohibited to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout with a draft net, snap net or other engine, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing or attempting in any fishery district, during the period commencing on the day immediately following the end of the annual close season for salmon and trout and ending on 11 May 2006.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any locality where the annual close season for salmon and trout ends on or after 11 May 2006.

(3) Paragraph (1) in so far as it applies to taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, sea trout with a draft net, or aiding or assisting in such taking, fishing, or attempting, does not apply in that part of the No.1 or Dublin District which is outside of the tidal waters.


9. Notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law fixing the annual close season for salmon and trout in that part of the No. 1 or Dublin District which is outside of the tidal waters, it is prohibited, to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, sea trout with a draft net in the said part of the No.1 or Dublin District, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing, or attempting in the said part of the No. 1 or Dublin District, during the period commencing on the day immediately following the end of the annual close season for salmon and trout and ending on 25 April 2006.


10. Notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law fixing the annual close season for salmon and trout in any locality, it is prohibited in any fishery district, to take or to fish for, or to attempt to take or to fish for, salmon or trout, or to aid or assist in such taking, fishing or attempting -

(a) in the case of drift nets other than drift nets in the tidal waters or drift nets in the No.1 or Dublin District outside the tidal waters, during the period commencing on 1 August 2006 and ending on 31 May 2007,

(b) in the case of drift nets in the tidal waters, draft nets or other engines (other than draft nets or other engines in the Eastern Fisheries Region), during the period commencing on 1 August 2006 and ending on 11 May 2007,

(c) in the case of drift nets for the taking of the salmo salar species of salmon in that part of the No. 1 or Dublin District which is outside of the tidal waters, during the period commencing on 24 July 2006 and ending on 31 May 2007,

(d) in the case of drift nets for the taking of sea trout in that part of the No. 1 or Dublin District which is outside of the tidal waters, during the period commencing on 24 July 2006 and ending on 25 April 2007,

(e) in the case of draft nets or other engines in the Eastern Fisheries Region, during the period commencing on 13 August 2006 and ending on 11 May 2007,

(f) in the case of draft nets for sea trout in that part of the No. 1 or Dublin District which is outside of the tidal waters, during the period commencing on 13 August 2006 and ending on 25 April 2007, and

(g) in the case of snap nets, during the period commencing on 15 August 2006 and ending on 11 May 2007.


11. It is prohibited -

(a) to have on board any boat, or

(b) to have in or on any vehicle, or otherwise,

with the intention of taking or fishing for, or attempting to take or to fish for, salmon or trout, a drift net, draft net, snap net or other engine, in any fishery district, during the periods relevant to those nets or such engines specified in Article 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.


12. (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and notwithstanding anything contained in any bye-law regulating the net to be used in fishing for salmon or trout, it is prohibited to use, or to attempt to use, in fishing for salmon or trout in any fishery district

(a) a drift net in the tidal waters,

(b) a drift net in that part of the No. 1. or Dublin District outside the tidal waters on or after 30 June 2006, or

(c) a draft net, snap net or other engine,

made wholly or partly of monofilament or multistrand monofilament.

(2) Paragraph (1) in so far as it applies to draft net fishing for salmon or trout, or attempting to use a draft net in fishing for salmon or trout made wholly or partly of monofilament or multistrand monofilament does not apply to such fishing in Cork Harbour.


(3) Subject to paragraph (4) it is prohibited to have on board any boat, or to have in possession, for the capture of salmon or trout, on any quay on or adjacent to, or on or near any bank of, any waters in any fishery district, a draft net, snap net or other engine, mounted or otherwise prepared for use in fishing for salmon or trout, made wholly or partly of monofilament or multistrand monofilament.

(4) Paragraph (3) in so far as it applies to having on board any boat, or having in possession, for the capture of salmon or trout, a draft net, mounted or otherwise prepared for use in fishing for salmon or trout, made wholly or partly of monofilament or multistrand monofilament does not apply in Cork Harbour.


(5) It is prohibited to have on board any boat, or to have in possession, for the capture of salmon or trout, on any quay on or adjacent to, or on or near any bank -

(a) of the tidal waters, or

(b) in that part of the No. 1 or Dublin District outside the tidal waters on or after 30 June 2006,

a drift net, mounted or otherwise prepared for use in fishing for salmon or trout, made wholly or partly of monofilament or multistrand monofilament.



13. The Salmon and Trout Conservation Bye-law No. 798, 2005 is revoked.



GIVEN under my hand,

25 April 2006.



John Browne
John Browne,
Minister of State at the Department of Communications,
Marine and Natural Resources.





EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This Note is not part of the Bye-law and does not purport to be a legal interpretation).

This Bye-law prescribes the opening and closing dates and the weekly close times etc. for commercial salmon and trout fishing.

The effect of this Bye-law on the individual fisheries is as follows:-

DRIFT NET FISHING

· The opening date (with the exception of the Shannon and Liffey tidal waters and sea trout fishing in the Dublin District outside the Liffey tidal waters) will be 1 June, 2006.

· The opening date in the Shannon and Liffey tidal waters will be 12 May, 2006 and sea trout fishing in the Dublin District outside the Liffey tidal waters will be 26 April, 2006.

· The closing date will be 31 July, 2006 with the exception of drift netting in the Dublin District outside the Liffey tidal waters where the closing date will be 24 July, 2006.
Fishing is not allowed between 6 a.m. on any Friday and 6 a.m. on the next following Monday.

· Fishing is prohibited each night between the hours of 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. the following morning on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights and from 9 p.m. on Thursday night until 6 a.m. the next following Friday morning with the following exceptions: -

(a) fishing in the Shannon and Liffey tidal waters where fishing is allowed on a 24 hour day basis,

(b) fishing in that part of the Dublin District outside the tidal waters on or after 30 June, 2006 where fishing is prohibited during day light hours and may only take place at night between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. the following morning on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights and from 9 p.m. on Thursday night until 6 a.m. the next following Friday morning.

CLOSE SEASON

· The close season (with the exception of the Shannon and Liffey tidal waters, that part of the Dublin District outside the tidal waters) will be from 1 August, 2006 to 31 May, 2007.

· In the Shannon and Liffey tidal waters 1 August, 2006 to 11 May, 2007

· In that part of the Dublin District outside the Liffey tidal waters 24 July, 2006 to 25 April, 2007 in the case of sea trout fishing and from 24 July, 2006 to 31 May, 2007 in the case of the salmon species (Salmo salar)
DRAFT NET AND OTHER ENGINE FISHING


· The opening date will be 12 May, 2006 where the opening date would previously have been on or before 12 May (with the exception of draft netting for sea trout in the No. 1 or Dublin District outside of the tidal waters of the Liffey where the opening date will be 26 April, 2006).

· The closing date will be 31 July, 2006 except those districts within the Eastern Fisheries Region where the closing date will be 12 August, 2006.

· Fishing is not allowed during the period commencing at 6 a.m. on any Saturday and ending at 6 a.m. on the next following Tuesday.

· Fishing is allowed on a 24 hour day basis during the open season outside the weekly close time.

· The close season will commence on 1 August, 2006, and end on 11 May, 2007 (with the exception of those districts within the Eastern Fisheries Region where the closed season will commence on 13 August, 2006 and sea trout fishing in the Dublin District outside the Liffey tidal waters where the close season will end on 25 April, 2007)

SNAP NET FISHING

· Opening date: 12 May, 2006.

· Closing date: 14 August, 2006.

Fishing is not allowed between 6 a.m. on any Saturday and 6 a.m. on the next following Tuesday with the exception of the Waterford Estuary where fishing is allowed five days a week (Monday – Friday) from 12 June.

The close season will commence on 15 August, 2006 and end on 11 May 2007,

GENERAL FOR ALL NETS AND ENGINES

The use of monofilament or multistrand monofilament material is not permitted in (a) drift nets in the tidal waters, (b) drift nets in the Dublin District outside the Liffey tidal waters on or after 30 June, 2006, (c) draft nets (with the exception of draft nets in Cork Harbour where the use of monofilament or multistrand monofilament material is permitted) (d), snap nets or other engines.

The possession of any net or other engine for the purpose of fishing for salmon or trout is prohibited during the annual close season.

FOOTNOTE

Section 11 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959 as amended by Section 27 (b) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1999 provides that any person aggrieved by this Bye-law may within 28 days after its publication in the Iris Oifigiuil, appeal against same to the High Court.

[wnion]

Dail Debate

Written By: Mr. Perry
On Date: 26/4/2006

1. Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, further to his recent announcement that anglers now have a ten fish quota for the 2006 angling season with an all district total limit of 15,000 fish as per the scientific advice, the rule will still be in place which dictates that one fish can be caught by anglers per day to June first and three fish per day after that date; if compulsory catch and release will be implemented once 15,000 fish have been caught; the way in which the fishery boards will know when 15,000 fish have been caught; the way in which these measures will be policed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13604/06]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. Browne): I apologise for the absence of the Minister due to a family bereavement.
The National Salmon Commission, informed by the National Fishery Managers Executive, has recommended that total wild salmon exploitation in 2006 should not exceed 106,367, with 91,367 allocated to the commercial sector and 15,000 to angling, thereby fully complying with the national conservation limits established by its standing scientific committee.

[Mr. Browne]
I am advised by the fisheries boards that the total angling catch will be controlled primarily in two ways, by a reduction in the annual bag limit from 20 to ten fish and the imposition of mandatory catch and release in eight of the 17 fishery districts from the month of September.
I intend, by means of amendments to the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout By-law (No. 797, 2004), to limit the number of fish which can be caught per day to one per day until June and three per day until the end of September, subject to the maximum annual bag limit of ten fish. Once anglers have used all their tags they will be required to cease fishing.
I intend, by making a further by-law, to introduce compulsory catch and release from 1 September in eight identified fishery districts that are not meeting conservation limits. These are Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Shannon, Galway and Sligo. The fisheries managers have argued that there is an absolute need to conserve stocks in those districts. Given that commercial fishing ceases in the majority of districts on 31 July, they maintain that there is no reason that anglers should continue to kill fish up to the end of September.
I am advised that enforcement will be undertaken in the normal way through fisheries officers checking individual anglers for compliance. The fisheries boards are exploring opportunities to develop and enhance their protection regime, making use of modern technology and management methods, including the assessment of district-based quotas for the angling sector.
While I am relying on the assurances given by both the commercial fishing interests and angling representatives that they are fully committed to all measures associated with the conservation and protection of our valuable wild salmon stocks, I have, nevertheless, asked the fisheries boards to ensure that the new quotas are fully enforced. The fisheries boards will continue to monitor the fishery and I have asked them to keep me advised of necessary measures in the course of the season to ensure compliance.

Mr. Perry: It is no wonder that there is a significant degree of conflict between the commercial fishermen and anglers, given the difficulties, despite the best intentions, in regulating the angling sector. Will the Minister of State indicate how many licences were issued in 2005?
If one looks at the situation with the River Slaney in County Wexford, only 376 salmon can be fished. There are 75 draft net fishermen on that river who, in effect, can only catch five salmon. With regard to anglers, there is no control whatsoever. An angler can buy ten tags in one district and a further ten in another district. The word of the angler has to be accepted that he or she has not bought tags previously. There is no central control system. Potentially, up to 21,000 licences will be on sale this year. If that figure is multiplied by ten, that would amount to 210,000 salmon, whereas the quota for anglers is 15,000.

Mr. Browne: I have read the reports of the National Salmon Commission and met the chairman. I have also met the fisheries managers, groups of drift net, draft net and snap net fishermen and anglers from all over the country. There is general agreement that stocks must be conserved. There was also a general agreement that we would accept the recommendations of the commission this year, even though the 2006 figures are slightly higher than what was recommended by the scientists. Next year we intend to move fully to the scientific figures, which will have further serious implications.
I am aware of the situation on the River Slaney and the people in that area are not too happy with the fact that I am going to sign off on a decision that will mean they will be very limited in the number of fish they can catch. However, we must also take into account that while we have 21,000 anglers, a significant number of them do not fish or catch no fish. Furthermore, a certain number of the draft net, drift net and snap net fishermen do not fish.
The decisions we have taken for this year will have to be fully complied with. The Minister and I will meet the fisheries board managers in the next two weeks to discuss serious enforcement and ensure that the 15,000 and 91,000 limits are fully observed.

Mr. Perry: We are all in favour of the conservation of stocks and I am aware that the Minister has appointed a team to carry out an evaluation. However, if one wants to ensure fairness between commercial fishermen and anglers, the number of tags issued by the Department must be controlled. At present, there is no methodology whatsoever to regulate the number of tags sold or to prevent anglers buying multiple tags. In effect, if they so wished, anglers could buy 50 tags and there is nothing to prevent them from doing so. A system should be set up whereby anglers are given a registered number which is stored on a database and available to all tag outlets.

Mr. Browne: Nationally, 106,000 tags will be issued this year. That takes into account commercial fishermen and anglers. Like the Deputy, I have heard anecdotal evidence of the abuses to which Deputy Perry refers. For that reason, we will meet the fisheries board managers in two weeks' time to determine how we can strictly enforce the limits. We may look at new ways of doing so and perhaps take on board some of the Deputy's suggestions. We will also examine the utilisation of modern technology with regard to the issuing of licences, checking log books and so forth. There is much ambiguity which must be cleared up and I am determined to do that. I have been three weeks in this post. A decision has been made and I hope that we will get the support of the anglers and commercial fishermen this year. However, as in every walk of life, some people will want to break the law but we will take action against them.

2. Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the recent adoption of the recommendations of the National Salmon Commission; what the quota reductions will be; what will happen to salmon stocks after 2006; the remit of the three-person independent group to examine the implications, especially the financial ones, of the new regulations for the commercial sector in 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13603/06]

Mr. Browne: I announced on 24 March that I had decided to adopt the recommendations made to me by the National Salmon Commission with regard to the total allowable salmon catch for 2006. This will involve reductions in the quota available to commercial fishermen and anglers in 2006. In doing so, I have also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to fully align with the scientific advice provided on the management of the wild salmon fishery by 2007.
Accepting the recommendations of the National Salmon Commission and the National Fishery Managers Executive, the total allowable catch in 2006 will be 91,367 for the commercial sector and 15,000 for angling, fully complying with the national conservation limits established by the standing scientific committee. These reductions in overall fishing effort are required to sustain and rebuild wild salmon stocks nationwide.
I propose to amend the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout By-law (No. 797, 2004) to restrict the annual angling bag limit to ten fish per angler for 2006. While the National Salmon Commission had recommended a limit of 15 fish per angler, I believe the lower level to be necessary to contain the total harvest by anglers to 15,000 fish, given that there has been no appreciable reduction in the average angling catch in the last five years and in the interest of balanced treatment of all stakeholders.
I intend to introduce a new by-law to provide for the introduction of compulsory catch and release from 1 September in eight identified fishery districts that are not meeting conservation limits. The fisheries managers have argued that there is an absolute need to conserve stocks in those districts.
I recognise the considerable efforts made by the commercial fishing industry in recent years to build a sustainable fishery and it has endured large cuts in the quotas available to them. I realise that these reductions have caused the industry difficulty and that full alignment with the scientific advice will probably compound these problems. For these reasons, I have decided to appoint an independent group to examine the implications of the new regulations for the commercial sector in 2007 and beyond and to make recommendations on the options available to address any financial hardship that may arise. The group will also determine the extent to which those stakeholders deriving economic benefit from the decision should contribute to any scheme, whether in cash or in kind, including improved tourist access.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
I have also accepted the National Salmon Commission’s recommendation that measures should be considered to deal with the exploitation of multi-sea winter salmon stocks, including consideration of the length of the angling season. The fisheries managers, having considered the scientific advice and will identify appropriate measures in time for application in spring 2007. The scientists will also be asked to tender advice on the management of sea trout stocks over the coming months.
The standing scientific committee has indicated that mixed stock fisheries pose particular threats to the status of individual stocks and that fisheries operated in estuaries and rivers are more likely to fulfil national and international obligations. In this context, the National Fisheries Management Executive has identified a range of pilot projects to facilitate the commercial fishery to move from areas of indiscriminate mixed stock fishery exploitation. The feasibility of these projects will be evaluated by the Department in conjunction with the fisheries boards and the Marine Institute with a view to their implementation in 2007 and beyond.

Mr. Broughan: The scientific advice was released towards the end of January of this year and the narrow decision of the National Salmon Commission followed some weeks later.
[Mr. Broughan]
There is much confusion among fishermen, anglers and in fishing communities as to what will happen in 2007. The Minister of State stated the TAC for 2006 is 91,000, which is disappointing to many such as those in the Stopnow campaign. What will happen in 2007? Is the Minister of State indicating that commercial fishing for wild salmon will stop in 2007? Is there any intention to put in more salmon counters, given that there is not enough information on stocks?
Has a division of the single stock management for salmon, the precautionary principle, as articulated in the report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, been introduced? An expert group comprising Padraic White, Professor Collins and John Malone was appointed. Has the Department made any estimates of the total losses for commercial fishermen? I have seen estimates of €7 million plus. Does the Minister of State have the figures?
Will there be a buy-out in 2007? If so, will it be voluntary or compulsory? Will the same happen to commercial driftnet fishermen as happened to Dublin taxidrivers? Will the Government appoint a hardship panel to award certain amounts of money in compensation?
The wild salmon is a key national symbol but we have become a pariah in Europe because of our treatment of our salmon stocks. Everyone wants to see the commercial fishermen treated fairly in whatever mechanism is used. I welcome the establishment of the expert group which will report in August.

Mr. Browne: Over the years figures from €30 million to €150 million have been used in describing the financial implications of banning driftnetting. When I returned to the Department in October, it was still an issue. I believed it was time to examine the implications of adopting the scientific advice for 2006. There will be severe hardships on the netmen with a quota of 91,000. There are already severe hardships considering their quota was 250,000. In 2006, the scientific advice was used to base the TAC and it will have serious implications.
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and I put a proposal to Government for the appointment for a group of three learned men to examine the implications of financial hardship, compensatory measures and implications on coastal communities. It will report in early August with its recommendations. I have asked the group to examine all options, including voluntary and compulsory buy-outs, and the effects on fishing communities.

Mr. Broughan: The group will make a recommendation to the Minister of State which he will follow.

Mr. Browne: It will make a recommendation that will be considered by the Department and will then go to the Government. If a financial recommendation is made, which I expect will happen, it will have to be approved by the Government.
The establishment of the group by the Government means there is an expectation of some monetary compensation. The most recent figure I have been informed of is €30 million. I have not told the independent group of this. Padraic White was involved with the scallop industry. John Malone was involved in drawing up compensatory packages in the farming sector. We should allow the fishing for this year with the TAC of 91,000. By early August we will have the report of the independent group and we can then make strong decisions on 2007.

[wnion]

Speech by Fine Gael Spokesperson on the Marine


Written By: Sinéad Fennel
On Date: 7/5/2006

John Perry TD, during the Fine Gael Ard Fheis 2006,
CityWest Hotel, Saggart, Co Dublin, Saturday 6th May 2006
Introduction I wish to thank the speakers who addressed the fisheries motion on today?s Clár. Over the last nine difficult years for our coastal communities, Fine Gael has led the charge for a Government commitment to rejuvenate the fishing industry and promote the growth and renewal of the marine sector.
As a sign of our commitment, Enda Kenny appointed a dedicated Marine Spokesperson to his Front Bench in September 2004.

In the last few months, we have done much work, culminating in the publication of our Charter for the future of Atlantic Salmon*? a sector that has been devastated as a result of Government inaction, dither and delay.
But I am not here to talk about existing policies. I am here to spell out to you and to the country that when it comes to the marine sector a sector that directly employs 15,000 people - we mean business.

Better Quota Management

Part of our strategy will be to put in place modern practices for a modern age.

Significant changes have taken place over the last decade and yet our system of quotas creaks along in the same way it always has.

Our quotas are administered on a monthly basis by way of a totally inflexible system of Statutory Instruments which criminalize fishermen for even the most technical offence

This is not how it should be.

I want a system where fishermen, conservationists and everyone with an interest in making the fishing industry work in the longterm is involved.

The management system must have sufficient flexibility to allow for the allocation of quota when and where it is most needed.

It must be realised that fishing patterns and catches do not follow calendar months and a degree of flexibility is essential.

An increased management and advisory role for the stakeholders themselves would ensure that this flexibility could be achieved.

The majority of other EU states have successfully devolved the management of quotas to the producer organisations ? so why can?t we?

I can announce today that Fine Gael in government will examine alternative quota management arrangements, with a view to developing a management regime that accurately reflects the current state of our fleet and fish stocks.

Sea Fisheries Bill

The introduction of the Sea Fisheries Bill will be viewed in time as a very negative chapter in the history of the Irish fishing industry.

From start to finish, it is an example to the nation as to how legislation should not be introduced.

Fine Gael?s policy on the issue is quite clear ? we do not condone over-fishing and if there is any criminal behaviour, it must be tackled.

We believe that serious offences must attract serious penalties.

However, it is also our position, that in common with the rest of Europe, minor offences should be dealt with by administrative penalties.

86% of European offences are dealt with in this fashion and the European Fisheries Commissioner, Joe Borg, himself has indicated that this is the way to go.
That is why Fine Gael re-iterates today that we will introduce an amendment to the Sea Fisheries Bill which will allow for a list of minor offences which will be covered by administrative sanctions.



Eco-Labelling and Quality Assurance

The demand for seafood has never been higher as people discover the health benefits associated with balanced diets.



This presents a major opportunity for our industry to develop.



A more co-ordinated programme of promotion and marketing of Irish seafood on home and export markets is required.



Marketing our fish effectively represents one of the biggest challenges to the industry and its importance will only increase in the future.



We need to develop a much more clinical approach to the marketing of fish.



With Bord Iascaigh Mhara?s marketing division, a strategy for adding value wherever possible must be developed for our limited quotas.



We must capitalise on the clean image of Ireland and where possible, try to develop niche markets.



I am announcing today that Fine Gael will introduce quality assurance and eco labelling schemes for a range of species in an effort to add value to the fish being landed by our fishermen.





What is more, we will initiate a research programme that would identify those fisheries/species with the greatest development potential.



Production and marketing trials aimed at realising this potential will follow.



We also believe it is very important that we avail of the expertise available in Irish universities in terms of food product development.



Following on from this, I believe that Bord Iascaigh Mhara should have their role re-organised to become the Seafood Development Authority for the aquaculture, fisheries, seafood processing and marketing sectors.



The new Authority should be charged with the development and promotion of those internationally recognised quality eco-labels for Irish seafood, produced from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.



Since quality begins at sea, on the boat, or the fish farm (as soon as it enters the net), it is essential that the development role should run all the way from the sea to the table.



Stakeholder Involvement

Above all, though, Fine Gael is committed to the important role that the industry can play in policy development.



We are conscious that far too often, there has been a gulf between industry and government with different agendas at play.



The industry must share the responsibility on this issue.



The perception of our fishing industry is one of fragmentation and mixed messages.



Given that there are at least 5 representative organisations for the catching sector alone, it can be difficult to convey a unified and coherent message.



With this in mind, I commit this Party today to the introduction of a Marine Minister?s Advisory Committee that will comprise of all stakeholders within the fishing industry.



This will include industry representatives, departmental officials, state agencies and conservationists to advise the government on national and EU policy issues.



It is time people with experience and knowledge of how our fisheries work, be they fisherman or conservationist, actually helped build a Marine Industry for the 21st century.



The sector offers enormous possibility if we work together to build a sustainable and profitable future for the Irish fishing industry.



ENDS



* Full document available on www.finegael.ie



Note: Please find full text of Marine Summary




Change, for the Better

Fine Gael Ard Fheis 2006





Summary of Fine Gael Marine Policy



Introduction

Fine Gael Spokesperson on the Marine, John Perry TD, unveiled a series of policy initiatives that the Party will take to promote the Marine Sector.



Over the last nine difficult years for our coastal communities, it has been Fine Gael that has led the charge for a Government commitment to rejuvenate the fishing industry and promote the growth, renewal and diversification of the marine sector. In the last few months, Fine Gael has done much work, culminating in the publication of our Charter for the future of Atlantic Salmon* ? a sector that has been devastated as a result of Government inaction, dither and delay. Fine Gael has made the following commitments:



Better Quota Management

Significant changes have taken place over the last decade and yet Ireland?s system of quotas creaks along in the same way it always has.



The management system must have sufficient flexibility to allow for the allocation of quota when and where it is most needed. It must be realised that fishing patterns and catches do not follow calendar months and a degree of flexibility is essential. An increased management and advisory role for the stakeholders themselves would ensure that this flexibility could be achieved.



Fine Gael in government will examine alternative quota management arrangements with a view to developing a management regime that accurately reflects the current state of our fleet and fish stocks.



Sea Fisheries Bill

Fine Gael does not condone over-fishing and if there is any criminal behaviour, it must be tackled. We believe that serious offences must attract serious penalties. But it is our position, that in common with the rest of Europe ? where 86% of offences are dealt with in this fashion - minor offences should be dealt with by administrative penalties.



Fine Gael re-iterates today that we will introduce an amendment to the Sea Fisheries Bill which will allow for a list of minor offences which will be covered by administrative sanctions.



Eco-Labelling and Quality Assurance

A more co-ordinated programme of promotion and marketing of Irish seafood on home and export markets is required, which gives prominence to the increasingly important environmental, health and nutritional aspects. Marketing our fish effectively represents one of the biggest challenges to the industry and its importance will only increase in the future.



Fine Gael will introduce quality assurance and eco labelling schemes for a range of species in an effort to add value to the fish being landed by our fishermen.

We will initiate a research programme that would identify those fisheries/species with the greatest development potential. Production and marketing trials aimed at realising this potential will follow. The expertise available in Irish universities in terms of food product development will be utilised and improved links with the industry will be developed.



BIM should have their role re-organised to become the Seafood Development Authority for the aquaculture, fisheries, seafood processing and marketing sectors. The new Authority should be charged with the development and promotion of those internationally recognised quality eco-labels for Irish seafood produced from sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.



Stakeholder Involvement

Fine Gael is committed to the important role that the industry can play in policy development. We are conscious that far too often, there has been a gulf between industry and government with different agendas at play.



With this in mind, the Party is committed to the introduction of a Marine Minister?s Advisory Committee that will comprise of all stakeholders within the fishing industry. This will include industry representatives, departmental officials, state agencies and conservationists to advise the government on national and EU policy issues.



It is time people with experience and knowledge of how our fisheries work - be they fisherman or conservationist - actually helped build a Marine Industry for the 21st century. The sector offers enormous possibility if we work together to build a sustainable and profitable future for the Irish fishing industry.



* Full document available on www.finegael.ie

Sinéad Fennell,
Press Officer,
Fine Gael National Press Office,
Dáil Éireann,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2.

Tel: [phone] (Direct)
Fax: [phone] / 3
Mob: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

[wnion]

Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now Conference

Written By: Ian Powell
On Date: 9/5/2006

”After Drift Nets – Rebuilding our Salmon stocks.” To be held in Dublin this coming Sunday. For more info go to our News page www.ireland-salmon- fishing.net/News/stopnowconference.htm
Please make a special effort to attend. You don’t have to be a contributor or member of the Stop Now organisation, what we need are interested people. The conference will provide an opportunity for everyone to hear where Stop Now is with its campaign and to hear and discuss the various methods being applied in Britain to restore Salmon numbers in the rivers. If you're coming from abroad, why not combine it with a couple of days after a May salmon on the Blackwater!



New Fishing Regulations for 2006
New rules on bag limits have been announced by the Central Fisheries Board.
For more info go to our Fishing page

www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/Fishing/fishing-regs.htm




Prospects for May
We have just had a very well-timed flood. High water at this time of year usually ensures that the larger (10-15lb.) May fish & the first grilse start to run. The river rose from 0.4m to 0.97m following heavy rain at the end of last week. It is back to 0.60m now with moderate clarity & a heavy peat stain. The weather forecast is fair for this week & good for next week, so the water should come back into good order in the next day or two.
Having just had the best April since 1989, we are hoping the good runs will continue with the May fish & grilse.

Best Regards & Tight Lines
Ian Powell (Proprietor)
Blackwater Lodge Hotel & Salmon Fishery
(Voted Best Fishing Hotel 2005 by the readers of the UK magazine Today's Flyfisher!)

Upper Ballyduff
Co. Waterford
Ireland
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net
Tel: [phone] From UK: 0871 474 0135 (10p/min any time!)
Fax: [phone] From UK: 0871 474 0136 (10p/min any time!)
Mobile: [phone]

[wnion]

EU confirms Ireland will end drift netting for salmon

Written By: Niall Greene
On Date: 12/6/2006

“Ireland has given a firm commitment to meet scientific advice in 2007 which means that fisheries will only take place in estuaries and rivers on stocks which have been shown to be above their conservation limit” the head of the EU delegation, Mr Alan Gray told the annual meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation held in Saariselka, Finland on Thursday, 8 June. The statement was included in the official record of the meeting.

Commenting on the announcement, Niall Greene, chair of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now said that “We welcome this further affirmation of the Irish government’s intention to end drift netting at the conclusion of the current season. The 2006 report of the Standing Scientific Committee of the National Salmon Commission has made it clear that the continuation of mixed stock fishing (drift netting and some draft netting) is incompatible with a science based approach to the management of our salmon stocks. Taken together with the need to respect Ireland’s obligations to manage our salmon stocks in accordance with the terms of the EU Habitats’ Directive, this latest statement from the EU is of particular significance”.
NASCO is an intergovernmental organisation comprising all countries in the North Atlantic area which have significant salmon populations. It has developed standards for the management of salmon and monitors the status of stocks. At its meeting in Finland the organisation adopted a new approach to multi-annual national plans for implementing its agreements which involves each government reporting publicly on the outcome of its efforts. In addition, NASCO confirmed its commitment to the SALSEA project which is designed to establish the causes of increasing mortality rates among salmon at sea.

Dr Ken Whelan of Ireland’s Marine Institute was reelected chairman of NASCO for a further two years. In addition to Irish government representatives attending as part of the EU delegation Ireland was resented in the NGO delegation by Noel Carr of the Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers, Paddy Byrne of the National Anglers Representational Association and Niall Greene of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now.
For further information contact: Niall Greene 086 826 9222

[wnion]

NASCO throws Lifeline to Western Atlantic Salmon!

Written By: Carmel Jorgensen
On Date: 15/6/2006

The Irish Republic has given a commitment to abide by scientific advice and only fish commercially for salmon stocks which are above their conservation limit and targeted in estuaries and rivers. The new policy will start in 2007, so closing the damaging Irish coastal drift net fishery.

This statement was given by Alan Gray, Head of the EU Delegation at the annual meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO), held in Saariselka, Lapland (Northern Finland) on Thursday, 8 June, and was included in the official record of the meeting.
The EU’s statement brings further hope that the mixed stock drift net fishery operated in the Republic’s coastal waters, which intercepts fish from England, Wales and SW Scotland as well as many other European rivers struggling to re-establish salmon populations, is at last coming to a close, following years of lobbying by a wide range of Non Government Organisations (NGOs) from Ireland and all the other salmon-producing nations affiliated to NASCO.

The NGOs enjoyed their greatest influence in the 23 year history of NASCO. Accepted as a NASCO partner for the first time, with their Chairman, Chris Poupard (former S&TA Director), sitting at the top table alongside Heads of Delegation from all the NASCO Parties, the NGOs had a full input to all the issues discussed at the meeting.

The NASCO NGOs, including S&TA, also called for all other mixed stock fisheries still operated within the UK to be closed. The NGOs stated that the efficient management of salmon populations can only be effected on single stocks from individual rivers. All parties have signed the NASCO resolution to end mixed stock fisheries within their coastal waters, and they should now stand by that commitment.

Apart from the Irish drift nets, the most important issue debated was that of Implementation Plans, whereby all Parties will produce programmes of measures to manage and conserve salmon stocks within their jurisdiction. These plans will then be reviewed by an ad hoc group, which will include representatives from the NGOs, to monitor progress on an annual basis, thereby overcoming the accusation that NASCO Parties could renege on management commitments without fear of retribution at following meetings.

S&TA Director Paul Knight, who was attending his fifth annual NASCO meeting, said, “there was a real feeling this year that NASCO was entering a new, transparent working atmosphere, with the NGOs at last being accepted as partners in the fight to improve salmon stocks throughout the Northern hemisphere. The EU commitment to closing the Irish drift net fishery from 2007 was an indication of a heightened willingness to action rather than just talk, and we look forward to the Parties’ Implementation Plans carrying this commitment to all the issues currently jeopardising salmon populations.”

NASCO’s SALSEA project, which looks to research salmon in the marine stage of their life, will form the bedrock of scientific work for the future. This is the vision of NASCO President, Ken Whelan, and follows on the successful voyages undertaken by Scottish and Norwegian research vessels in 2005, carrying out work part-funded by the UK NGO, the Atlantic Salmon Trust. The NASCO Board pledged funds for further SALSEA research, and the NGOs agreed to work closely with the Parties in identifying further funding streams for future work.

NASCO is an inter-governmental organisation comprising all countries in the North Atlantic area which have significant salmon populations. Originally established to set quotas for the fisheries around Greenland and the Faroe Islands, it has since developed standards for the management of salmon and monitors the status of stocks through commissions with the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES). NASCO now debates all issues of relevance to salmon management and conservation and, in particular, has signed all Parties up to resolutions covering the Precautionary Principle, the ending of all Mixed Stock Fisheries in home waters and the Williamsburg Resolution, which seeks to reduce the impact of aquaculture on wild salmonid species.

Dr Ken Whelan of Ireland’s Marine Institute was reelected chairman of NASCO for a further two years

The Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA) established in 1903 is the only organisation representing all game anglers in the UK at the highest levels to influence and change Government legislation, policy and management practices to protect and improve the water environment and the quality of fishing. S&TA promotes flyfishing by introducing people of all backgrounds to game angling and communicating the environmental, social and economic benefits of angling.

For further information, please contact the Salmon & Trout Association, on 020 7283 5838
Carmel Jorgensen
Policy, Campaigns and Communications
S&TA (Salmon & Trout Association) UK
Tel. [phone]
Email. [e-mail]
Web. www.salmon-trout.org