Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)

I raise a very serious issue that is happening in my constituency in Mayo. That is the proposed closure of the Cong hatchery. This facility is one of the most important pieces of infrastructure in Mayo. It is fundamentally important. It is the jewel in the crown of the tourism sector in south Mayo. Cong, Ballinrobe, much of south Mayo and Galway rely on this important angling and tourism sector. The IFI is proposing to close this hatchery. Why is this important? It is important that the Minister of State understands that the hatchery was established in the 1960s. It was established as a result of a near wipe-out of salmon stocks. The IFI created the hatchery. It imported genetics from abroad. It has been hugely successful in replenishing the near wipe-out of salmon stocks across the Corrib. Many of the smolts that are produced have a huge success rate in leaving our shores, travelling across North America and returning.

The IFI decided to close without any environmental assessment. In fact, I have written to the Minister of State. I have submitted parliamentary questions. I was amazed at the response. I asked what analysis was done on the fish stocks in the region. There was no analysis done. I also asked what analysis was done on the impact on the tourism sector in south Mayo and Connemara. The reply was astonishing. It stated that because, in the 1960s, the hatchery was not established for the purposes of tourism, no impact assessment would be done. What kind of response is that? Cong and south Mayo have developed on the back of this really important piece of infrastructure, but no impact analysis is done. There are hundreds of jobs and businesses that rely on tourism in south Mayo. This is an important aspect that must be considered. I ask the Minister of State to consider the impact on tourism and the impact it will have on fish stocks in the region.

The report that was published by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, NASCO, is being used to essentially close the Cong hatchery, but the fact is that NASCO recognises that well-managed hatcheries can play an important role in conservation of our fish stocks. The science used to justify the closure manipulates the international guidance and overlooks Cong’s valuable service. I asked about the assessment that was done on the fish stocks that are produced in Cong but no data was provided. This hatchery should be used as flagship hatchery. It should be a model to follow, a place we can go to learn and research and an education facility. I have no doubt that if we see an epidemic like the environmental disaster we saw in the River Blackwater, we will rue the day that we close this. This will cost millions of euro to re-establish down the line.

Before this hatchery is closed, I ask the Minister of State to join me in Cong, visit the facility and see the valuable contribution. It is just two hours from County Clare. I will join him at the facility in Cong at any point of his choosing. I am asking him to pause, reflect, intervene and understand what is at stake here for the entire region, not just for tourism but in term of the salmon stocks in south Mayo. It is fundamentally important. Will the Minister of State commit to visiting Cong hatchery before the IFI closes this facility?

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