Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications

Depletion of Inland Fish Stocks and Impact of Estuary Poaching: Inland Fisheries Ireland

10:05 am

Photo of Michael ColreavyMichael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

According to the information I have, approximately five people are engaged in trap and transport activities and that it is more of a description of a solution to a problem than a solution to a problem in itself, which probably is accurate. There must be a role for our European Union representatives in this regard because it is clear that Ireland probably is the only country in the European Union that is taking really seriously eel conservation, which I support 100%. I do not believe that Ireland is in a position to solve this problem on its own. I believe that those who are involved in eel fisheries are entitled to some compensation for the fact that a large part of their income is now gone. I also believe the reluctance of other European countries to get seriously involved in this matter is because of this factor, namely, the question of compensation. This is an issue that should be addressed openly and honestly at European level but at present, we appear to be the only ones who are seriously concerned with it.

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