Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the depleting salmon stocks in Irish rivers; the effects this is having on the tourism industry; the steps he intends to take to ensure that this trend is reversed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22641/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Wild salmon stocks are under threat from a variety of adverse environmental and other pressures which impact on marine survival as well as in our rivers and estuaries. As Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, I am fully aware that these pressures, along with excessive exploitation of salmon stocks, pose a significant threat to the long-term sustainability of this valuable resource.

Since 2002, the Government has implemented a strategy to ensure, through progressive reductions in the commercial catch, that the conservation limits specified by the standing scientific committee of the National Salmon Commission are being reached. This policy of promoting the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling has delivered significant overall catch reductions aimed at achieving the objective of restoration of salmon stocks.

The central and regional fisheries boards devote considerable effort and resources, in collaboration with Tourism Ireland, to the promotion of angling abroad. I am advised that the overall decline in angling tourism is not unique to Ireland but reflects a trend widespread in Europe. The report of the tourism policy review group to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism in September 2003 observed a decline in activity holidays generally which is not confined to angling.

The conservation measures which have been implemented to date on the recommendation of the National Salmon Commission deliver a practical mechanism to effect the protection of salmon stocks while acknowledging the important role angling plays in attracting tourists to Ireland. These measures, which are necessary to minimise the impact on our valuable wild salmon stocks, are aimed at providing an adequate season for tourism angling.