Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 98: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the salmon returning to spawn in the rivers in the south-east are much less likely to survive due to drift-netting off the north-west, west and south-west coast, than salmon returning to the rivers in these areas; his proposals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16783/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am advised by the Marine Institute that no direct scientific information is available to assess the catch distribution of wild salmon returning to the south east coast. However, research has consistently shown that, while tagged, ranched fish have been found in a wide range of fisheries remote from their home waters, in general, the bulk of salmon taken from a given geographical area are taken in adjacent fisheries. This would indicate that the majority of the commercial harvest of salmon from the south east is most likely taken in adjacent fisheries in the south eastern area itself and in fisheries along the south coast. I am informed by the Southern Regional Fisheries Board that a large proportion of the commercial fishing quota in the southern region is caught inside the estuaries and up river by snap net and estuary fishermen in the Waterford district and the private licensees in the Lismore district, which signifies exploitation of a single stock. To gain more detailed information on the spread of catches along the south and east coasts, efforts are being made by the Marine Institute and the regional fisheries boards to capture and tag wild salmon smolts on the Rivers Laune and Suir. In addition, 11,000 tagged smolts were released in the River Suir. On their return in 2006 it may be possible to assess the pattern of exploitation by the various commercial fishing engines on these tagged groups.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 99: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the position regarding the impact of the works carried out on the River Nore in Kilkenny City with respect to the number of salmon reaching the spawning grounds in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16784/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have previously advised the House that works carried out on the weir on the River Nore in Kilkenny City were undertaken on behalf of and are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. Because of the impact that the new installation was having on the passage of migrating salmon up river, the regional fisheries board and the engineering division of this Department offered technical expertise to address the problem. I understand, from the chief executive of the Southern Regional Fisheries Board, that his staff, in co-operation with the engineers in this Department and the Office of Public Works, have installed a temporary extension to the fish pass in order to ameliorate the situation and allow for the passage of fish up river. I am also advised that a long-term solution is planned and it is expected will be completed during low water in the summer months. I am further advised by the board that some salmon encountered difficulties migrating to the spawning grounds during an eight day period at the beginning of January 2005. Low water levels throughout the catchment but specifically at Lacken Weir, Kilkenny, resulted in the hold up. While fresh redds were observed in the tributaries above Lacken Weir after the period, water conditions in the following few weeks prevented accurate counts being taken. Salmon migration in the Nore catchment occurs from May through to March, the main run being in August, September and October.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 100: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of salmon and trout tags issued to the angling sector in each of the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16818/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am advised by the Central Fisheries Board that the data collected and published in the Wild Salmon And Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Fisheries Statistics Report is constructed primarily with a view to measuring exploitation rather than tags issued to anglers. Consequently, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, since 2002, only one tag is issued with a one day angling licence up to the 31 May. Three tags per day are issued thereafter during the season. Only one tag per one day licence was issued during September 2004. Five tags are issued with all other salmon and sea trout angling licences. When confirmation is provided that those initial five tags have been used, a further allocation of five tags to a maximum of 20 per season is made. Confirmation of use is verified through the log book. Prior to 2003 there was no limit to the number of tags that could be issued in a season. Anglers are obliged under the terms of the licence to return log books and any unused tags to the regional fisheries boards at the end of the season. However, there are variations in the level of compliance. The national average percentages of log book return in 2001, 2002 and 2003 were 43%, 52% and 57%, respectively. In addition, not all anglers who have returned logbooks will return their unused tags. A comment is entered into the database in relation to those licence holders who have returned unused tags. These entries are not in a format suitable for numerical analysis and cannot therefore be quantified. The Central Fisheries Board needs to examine the development of the database since 2001 to establish if it could provide this information for 2001 to 2003. The 2004 statistics are have not been finalised. The following information is reproduced in the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Fisheries Statistics Report 2003 to 2004 prepared by the Central Fisheries Board: