John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister of State for his response. There is an independence to the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland. I recognise that the Minister of State is being prudent in not interfering in its decision-making processes. I do not have the scientific background required to challenge some of the content of the response. Nevertheless, there are a number of things I note. This hatchery has been in place since before 2016, and possibly before that. I am not sure of the foundation date. It is not recently that the Corrib has become a special area of conservation. It has been one for some time. I imagine that consideration was previously given to whether this would have an impact on that SAC and whether the activities of the hatchery would have been a negative in terms of the conservation of the salmon population in Lough Corrib. However, I am not sure about that.

I have been made aware by people who frequent the Corrib that Cong hatchery brood stocks are indigenous Corrib salmon. This suggests that the evidence IFI is putting forward regarding the risk to wild stocks is limited. I am not sure whether it stands up. I am not sure there is interbreeding with different species of wild salmon. The hatchery produces indigenous Corrib salmon. Correspondence from IFI states that the stock levels meet its objectives, but that is not the sentiment among anglers. They have been angling on the Corrib for generations. Stocks are declining. The hatchery was one conservation measure that maintained the stock. It seems this decision was made by IFI without consultation with local anglers. Those anglers take great pride in their pursuit and in the natural facility of the Corrib. They would not do anything to harm the stock of salmon or the natural environment of the Corrib. I ask that IFI engage with local anglers on the issue.

See this speech in context