Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the recorded catch of commercial driftnet salmon fishermen in the 2005 season; the reason the catch was so low; if a voluntary buyout of commercial salmon fishing licences will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26114/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Data on the recorded catch by commercial salmon fishermen will not be formally available until mid October when full analysis of exploitation during the 2005 season has been completed by the central and regional fisheries boards. The Government has accepted the scientific 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 as soon as possible. In keeping with this policy, when setting the commercial salmon quotas for the 2005 season, I gave a firm commitment to fully align the exploitation of salmon, both at national and district levels, on the scientific advice by 2007.

In order to achieve this, I will ask the new national salmon commission, which I intend to appoint shortly, to progress the specific recommendation made by the outgoing commission to align the exploitation of salmon on the scientific advice by 2007. The Government has consistently ruled out buyout as an effective means of achieving the restoration of salmon stocks and has instead, since 2002, promoted the application of quotas on commercial fishing and bag limits on angling to achieve catch reductions as the best instrument available to achieve this objective.

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 buyout 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 a result, and as I have previously and consistently indicated to the House, I have no plans at present to introduce a buyout of commercial salmon fishing licences but I am continuing to review the matter in the context of the policy outlined above. In this regard, I would be open to any relevant proposals presented to me 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. I can confirm that broad outline proposals have been submitted to me recently, which I intend to consider in the context of any review of policy.