Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Ross for raising this issue. I will reply on behalf of the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

Salmon habitats and stocks throughout the north Atlantic regions are under threat from a variety of adverse pressures. Some of these pressures are environmental and some relate to water quality. Other pressures include drift netting, seals, poaching in rivers and estuaries, and pollution. With this in mind, the Government has accepted the National Salmon Commission's advice that continues to maintain that reductions in the overall fishing effort are required in order to sustain and rebuild salmon stocks nationwide. For this reason, current Government policy has been designed to bring spawning escapement up to the level of the scientifically-advised conservation limits and to fully align the wild salmon catch on the scientific advice so that we can have increased confidence that a sustainable management regime is in place.

My colleague, the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, Deputy Gallagher, has indicated that the Government is committed to limiting the salmon catch to that advised by the scientific advice by 2007. He is not convinced however that operating a managed fishery in accordance with the scientific advice will necessarily mean the cessation of the drift net fishery. He will consult with the new National Salmon Commission on the best method of achieving an alignment on the scientific advice by 2007.

The Minister of State assures me that he is fully aware of the widespread concerns being expressed that drift netting for wild salmon in the Irish fishery is having a damaging impact on wild Atlantic salmon stocks. It should be noted however that despite these claims, the Government does not accept that there is any sound or agreed scientific basis for the allegations made that the Irish salmon drift net fishery has an unacceptable impact on salmon stocks, either in Ireland or in other European countries.

In this regard, the Government would argue strongly that, together with its commitment to align on the scientific advice in two years, its management of the Irish home water commercial salmon fisheries, which limits the commercial salmon fishing season, confines it to within the six-mile limit and restricts the number of fish being caught, clearly demonstrates a commitment to the conservation of the wild salmon stock which is in keeping with the spirit and principles of our obligations, both as a member of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation, NASCO, and under relevant European Union and other international legislation.

Since 2002, the Government has promoted the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling to achieve catch reductions as the best instrument available to achieve the restoration of salmon stocks. A quality and value strategy is also in place within the commercial salmon fishery aimed at improving how fish are handled, post-catching, to ensure the maximum price per fish is obtained. This approach maintains or increases the overall income derived from the fishery even when the total catch is reduced.

In these circumstances, the Minister has no plans to introduce proposals to purchase commercial drift net salmon fishing licences. The Government has consistently ruled out buy-out as an effective means of achieving the restoration of salmon stocks. Moreover, no convincing case has been advanced as to the public good that would be acquired by the State in the context of a publicly-funded buy-out of commercial salmon licences nor why stakeholders benefiting from increased numbers of salmon entering the rivers should not contribute in whole or in part towards achieving that increase.

As he has previously indicated to the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Minister of State with responsibility for the marine is prepared to keep the matter under review. In this regard, he advises me he would be open to any relevant proposals presented to him whereby stakeholders benefiting from any reduction in commercial catch would engage in the first instance with licence holders and indicate a willingness to address any compensation issues that might arise.

In the wider context, the EU Commission has recently begun work to examine the management of the wild Atlantic salmon in Community waters and, in particular, to examine the position on interceptory fisheries of mixed stocks of salmon inside the 12 mile limits. The Government has noted the EU Commission's concerns in this regard and has already indicated its intention to work with the Commission to achieve proper regulation of these fisheries.

I understand the European Commission expects to complete its report on these fishing activities later this year. As this study is expected to provide an accurate analysis of the impact of interceptory fisheries on mixed stocks of wild salmon in Community waters, the Government believes we should await the outcome before any further conclusions are drawn in the matter.