Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In 2007, a ban on inshore fishermen using salmon drift nets was put in place. It was meant to be reviewed after seven years. This has led to inshore fishermen not being able to fish for salmon and is leading to huge losses for local rural communities. It has now been proven that inshore fishermen were not to blame for the loss of salmon stocks as stocks are still dropping. This is due in a large way to rivers not being looked after. Spawning pools are overgrown by trees. It is even suggested that cutting forestries near rivers leads to nutrients going into the water, which has led to a loss of stocks. All in all, proper research needs to be done immediately. While this research is ongoing to find the real facts as to who is to blame for the loss of salmon stocks I ask the Minister to lift immediately the ban on inshore fishermen using salmon drift nets.

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