James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to be able to contribute to the debate on the Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Bill. The objective of the Bill is technical as well as urgent in terms of enhancing the prosecution powers of Inland Fisheries Ireland in order that it can enforce legislation. There is a lacuna in the law that prevents the organisation from doing so at the moment. Therefore, the Bill is urgent and important and we fully support it. It is important that the organisation has the powers to carry out its functions. That is a key aspect of what it needs to be able to safeguard the stocks.

It is important to take stock, in every sense, of where we are in terms of fisheries and inland fisheries in the wider sense. Stocks are under severe pressure not only in Ireland but throughout the world. Our focus is here. There are some things that we can control and some things we cannot control. In the case of those things we can control, it is important that we do so.

I note that salmon stocks globally have fallen from a peak in the mid-1970s of tonnage of 12,500 to approximately 1,500 tonnes now. There has been a 90% decline in salmon catch internationally since the mid-1970s. In Ireland, the decline is not quite as bad but there has been a 75% decline in salmon stocks and catch. Salmon in the rivers is down 75% from the peak of the 1970s. Our sea trout are under increasing pressure. Our eel population has been decimated in the same period, although for somewhat different reasons. It is along the same vein.

What can we control? Netting and poaching are addressed in the Bill with provision for prosecutions. Inland Fisheries Ireland needs every power available to do that. Sea lice and global warming are factors as well. We can contribute to the mitigation of these factors but they are not things we can directly control. It is important to realise those factors arise as well.

The fisheries industry is importance to Ireland. Often, we promote ourselves as a food hub or green island centred on food, tourism and everything we have to offer the visitor. Our visitors include local visitors and those who come from abroad. I believe up to 400,000 people are involved in recreational angling every year according to the most recent survey. Half of these people come from abroad. There is a major tourism uplift in that sense.

An economic benefit of up to €555 million was noted in the most recent survey in respect of direct spending. The figure is to €836 million in terms of the value to the economy from the spend on fishing and fishing-related activities. These affects are being felt in areas that are not seeing the benefits of wider economic activity. These are rural and less-populated areas in the regions. Those of us in Fianna Fáil are supportive of enhancing the economic opportunity and potential. I imagine the Government takes this view as well. It affects everything from guest houses to pubs, restaurant, cafes garages and other services. All of this increases visitors to these areas and this gives a major lift.

I want to leave time for my colleague, Deputy Murphy, who will wrap up on our side. Fisheries are a great national asset, as are the fish. Those responsible for fisheries need to be proactive about managing fish in terms of protection of the resource. They need to support that resource and be proactive by encouraging, enhancing and safeguarding it for future generations, because we do not miss what we have until it is gone. Let us hope we do not end up there. I very much support the Bill and I look forward to working with future versions of it.

See this speech in context