Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

I take this Adjournment debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection and development of inland fisheries stocks rests with the central and regional fisheries boards in accordance with the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2007. The Acts empower the regional fisheries boards to apply a permit charge for angling on fisheries under their control. The application of such a permit charge is a day-to-day operational matter for the relevant board, in this instance the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board. Within its region, the Shannon board controls 27 fisheries which are collectively known as the midland fisheries group and these include the River Suck, River Inny, River Brosna, Little Brosna River and Camilin River. While a number of these fisheries are better known as trout waters, others are renowned for the quality of the coarse and pike angling they offer.

It is normal practice within Ireland and throughout Europe for fishery owners, angling clubs and fisheries boards to charge an angling permit fee on waters they control. I am advised by the Shannon board that, as with its predecessor the Inland Fisheries Trust, it has imposed a permit charge for trout angling for more than 50 years on fisheries under its control. I understand the board, in reviewing its management and the fees charged for its fisheries in 2002, decided to extend the permit charges to cover coarse angling on the board-controlled fisheries. This was done on the basis that it was unfair to charge one angler to fish for one species while another angler fishing for a different species on the same water was not charged, yet all benefit from investment made in the fisheries.

As can be appreciated, the cost of managing these fisheries has greatly increased over the years. The board was of the view that coarse anglers who utilise the fisheries should contribute to the cost of conservation and protection of stocks as well as the upkeep of the coarse fisheries. A permit entitles the holder to fish in any of the 27 fisheries. The cost of an annual permit is €39 while a tourist angler is required to pay €20 for a 21-day permit. Amounting to less than 1 euro per day a tourist angler permit is clearly excellent value, especially when compared internationally, where a similar total price could be charged for a single day of fishing in Europe or the UK.

I am advised by the board that the total revenue generated by the permit system, including revenue from coarse fishing permits, during the period 2005 to 2008 is in the region of €317,146. The board assures me that funds raised from the sale of permits are reinvested in the conservation and day-to-day management and development of these fisheries. Therefore, it funds works ranging from habitat maintenance, fish stocking, pollution control and enforcement as well as tourism angling promotion activities. It has been the board's experience that where tourist anglers are informed that funds raised through angling permits, which entitle them to fish on all 27 fisheries controlled by the board, are reinvested in the fishery, they are willing to contribute.

I understand the board continues to develop the angling product and, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the Central Fisheries Board, actively promotes the Shannon region as a tourism angling destination. This promotion work includes participation in trade shows. The board also has a dedicated website which provides information on the fisheries. A recent initiative has seen the board make provision for a dedicated angling officer from whom visiting anglers may seek advice. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources believes permits for coarse and pike angling at less than 1 euro per day represent good value and play an important role in providing additional resources to help sustain the fishery in the future.