Dáil debates

Tuesday, 18 December 2018

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Inland Fisheries

6:20 pm

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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The closing date for submissions regarding the proposed closure for the River Feale and, obviously, the Galey and Brick as well was 13 December. This affects 50 to 60 fishermen who are actively involved in that fishing sector. There are 27 licences currently operating on that river, down from over 50 licences in 2011.

Many of those involved are generational fishermen. Their fathers before them, and in some cases their grandfathers, fished that section of the river. Currently, I know of one man who is almost 90 years of age who was even fishing this year. It is a tradition. It is part of their heritage. It is part of what they are.

The reason for the proposed closure for the 2019 season is down to conservation purposes. The fishermen themselves, who have been fishing from 1997 up until this year, have consistently played their part in conservation. They are reduced to a tagging system that started in 1997. It reduced their fishing period by six weeks from that year. Now they fish approximately 36 days a year, approximately five hours a day. That is the total fishing that they do there. As I stated, there were 51 licences in 2011. There are now 27.

The total number of fish that was taken this year by the fishermen, based on their quota through a tagging system, was 400 for the fishermen and 360 for those involved in the angling.

There is a counter system on the river, which is monitored and run by Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI. This year that counter system recorded 3,487 fish that went upriver. With 3,487 fish, it was determined they were 46 fish short of being allowed to fish in the coming season.

The counter system is 6 ft. to 8 ft. wide - I will show the Minister a picture of it. That counter system is what determines the fish that go upriver. According to the IFI, it is likely 15% more than that went upriver.

Where that counter system is, the river is approximately 100 yd. wide.

There is no doubt that far more than 3,487 fish passed up the river this year during which there was a terrible drought and subsequent flooding at high tide and other times. The river is 100 yd wide at the relevant point, with three fish passes, at only one of which there is a counter. I totally dispute the argument made by IFI that draft net fishing must end based on data from the counter system. It is a traditional way of life which the fishermen have worked tirelessly to conserve. They have behaved impeccably in that regard and done everything requested of them. The closure will create further terrible difficulties in that part of rural Ireland. The nearby post office in Ballylongford has closed, as has the creamery in Ballyduff and a business in Clashmealcon. Draft net fishing is probably one of the few industries left in the area. Although it is only permitted for 36 days per year, it would be a terrible mistake to end it. I hope the Minister of State will look favourably on the submissions and arguments made by the fishermen, the community and me.

6:30 pm

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, is the State agency responsible for the conservation, protection, management and development of Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources. It manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers, including river sections and estuaries, has its own genetically unique stock of salmon. It is supported in its management role by scientific advice from Ireland’s independent standing scientific committee, SSC, which comprises scientists from a range of organisations. It also has regard to advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas and EU legislation, notably the habitats directive, under which salmon habitats are protected.

Scientific and management assessments of each of the distinct stocks, including the River Feale, are carried out each year. IFI engages in extensive stock monitoring which feeds into the SSC’s annual reviews. The SSC uses data, including counter data, rod catch, catch and release and any commercial catch data in the previous five years to calculate an average over that period which is used to estimate expected returns for the coming year. The use of a five-year average ensures a good or bad year does not have a disproportionate impact on the stock assessment in any single year.

The annual wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme regulations, made under the lnland Fisheries Act 2010, provide for the management of Ireland’s wild salmon and sea trout fisheries by lFl. Specifically, the regulations provide for the surplus to the established conservation limit, if any, which may be harvested either commercially or by rod and line from the rivers identified as open for harvest. The regulations are revised each year taking account of advice from IFI, the standing scientific committee and any submission received during a 30-day statutory public consultation period. Statutory notice was given on 14 November of the intention to make the draft wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme regulations 2018 to provide for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fisheries by IFI from 1 January 2019. A copy of the regulations which are made every year is available on my Department’s website and open for public inspection at the offices of the inland fisheries division of the Department in County Cavan and at Inland Fisheries Ireland offices throughout the country.

The scientific group uses several data sets in assessing the salmon stock on the River Feale. The stock is assessed using the fish counter located at Scartleigh dam. The commercial catch in the river and the number of salmon caught by rod below the counter and killed are added to the fish counter figure to calculate the total annual salmon return for the river. The counter is a one-channel counter operated on the crump weir which was installed to assist fish passage over the large weir. I am advised that the counter provides consistently accurate data. A new camera was installed early in the summer of 2017 for counter verification purposes. As advised by local Inland Fisheries Ireland staff who monitor the operation of the counter, the counter figure is increased to take account of the very small number of salmon that may bypass the counter by going over the weir in high water conditions or ascending an old fish pass channel on the north bank. According to local IFI staff, salmon generally do not ascend the weir in high water conditions. It should be noted that 2018 was a very dry year and that there were very few occasions on which the Scartleigh weir was overtopped.

The scientific group advises on the one-sea-winter and multi-sea-winter stock components. This year the River Feale had a one-sea-winter surplus of 544 fish and a multi-sea-winter surplus of 114. The run of salmon recorded on the fish counter over the five-year period from 2013 to 2017 was used to assess the salmon stock and provide scientific advice for 2018. Multi-sea-winter salmon caught between 1 January and 31 May returning after spending two or more years at the sea are larger and older fish which usually return in the springtime and are often referred to as spring salmon.

Photo of Martin FerrisMartin Ferris (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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The proposal by IFI and the scientific report are based on a counter on a fish pass that comprises approximately 6 ft to 8 ft of a river that is 100 m wide. Two other fish passes do not have counters. Two tributaries, the River Brick and River Galey, do not have counters. The proposal is that draft net fishing not be permitted on the river for one year. I know very well that if it is not permitted for one year, that will be the end of the industry. The drift net fishing industry was made obsolete and now draft net fishermen will be prevented from fishing. Another traditional fishery will be no more in that part of the country.

I do not accept the scientific analysis because of the particular conditions experienced this year. There was flooding on the river on many occasions, particularly at high tide. Given the 100 m span of the relevant stretch of the river, it is inevitable that fish ascended the river other than through the fish pass. The 15% allowance in that regard is insufficient.

What is the intention of the Government on this issue? Will the ban go ahead? Several post offices in County Kerry have closed recently. Another sector will now probably become obsolete and be left to die. I suspect that there is an agenda to end draft net fishing by putting forward the scientific evidence that has been presented. Has IFI made any effort by to restock the river? There were hatcheries on it 40 or 50 years ago, but there is none now. The Government does not intend for the salmon fishing industry in the river catchment to survive, by which I am very disappointed. The Minister of State, Deputy Brendan Griffin, who is present will agree that another traditional way of life in which people have been involved for generations is hanging by a thread.

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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I do not question the local knowledge of the Deputy or the fishermen. I have been approached by several local Deputies on the matter. There are issues the Deputy has raised about the science or the counters with which we must deal. However, the public consultation process has closed. I presume strong submissions were made on behalf of the anglers to whom the Deputy has referred on the points he has raised. Such submissions will be considered. The River Feale is reaching between 50% and 100% of its conservation limit and it has been proposed that there be catch and release in 2019. I do not know what submissions were made and will not try to influence the process. While I take on board the points made by the Deputy, the views of IFI and the scientific group must also be considered. I do not know what will happen in the context of the regulations for 2019 or what submissions were made by local anglers and public representatives, but I have only been in the Department for approximately six to eight weeks.

6 o’clock

In Galway, all the River Clare angling associations came together to form a group called Cáirde na Chláir to examine all the issues and come up with solutions with the IFI. We need to do that. I will have no problem in early January sitting down with all concerned to have a chat about the matter. It is important that there be consultation. The IFI's role is to protect and conserve fish stocks.

The Deputy asked what the IFI has done about restocking. I will find that out for him.