Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Colreavy acknowledged the serious situation that exists in regard to the availability of eels. By 2011, glass eel recruitment had fallen to 5% of the levels obtaining between 1960 and 1979. For every 100 glass eels available in the 1960s and 1970s, only five are available now. It is possible that the stocks could disappear and that eels could become extinct in this generation. We must conserve eels as a viable entity in the animal world. I presume that as eels become rare their price increases. Our job is to conserve and protect them on a three year cycle. If and when eel stocks recover the fisheries will be reopened but this will not happen any time soon.

I appreciate the Deputy's point in regard to the salmon hardship scheme and the compensation that may have been paid to other fishermen in the past but that was a long time ago and our economic circumstances mean that the requisite funding is not currently available. I am advised that IFI is investigating potential sources of EU funding but it is unable to confirm any such potential at this stage.

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