Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 419: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his proposals to stop the problem of drift netting of salmon which is threatening the supply of salmon in rivers; his estimate of the value to the country of salmon caught by drift netting compared to the added value of salmon caught by an angling tourist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28673/05]

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

Since taking up my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, I have reaffirmed the Government's acceptance of the scientific advice that reductions in the overall fishing effort are required 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.

To achieve this, I have asked the new National Salmon Commission to advise as to how best the alignment of exploitation of salmon with the scientific advice can be implemented by 2007, bearing in mind the requirement to ensure the future biological viability of the salmon resource in all catchments and also the needs of all stakeholders, including those who derive their living from the wild salmon resource. I will examine carefully all recommendations, including those relevant to drift netting, made by the salmon commission in this regard.

With regard to the potential for economic development of the salmon resource, I am fully aware of the suggestions to the effect that there may be greater economic potential for the State to be derived from the development of the angling tourism sector than from the commercial fishing sector where salmon is concerned. I am also aware, however, that consultations conducted by State agencies on these claims have elicited widely divergent views among stakeholders not only on the relative value of the sectors but also on the methodology adopted to arrive at those values. No consensus has been reached on any suggestions that a rebalancing of exploitation of the salmon resource in favour of tourism angling would deliver significant benefits to the State from a public good perspective.

To provide some clarity on this particular issue, however, the Department has asked the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the relevant State agencies under its aegis, to apply their expertise in evaluating the role and contribution of salmon angling tourism and to present a definitive view of its potential within the broader tourism sector. It is my belief that the current strategy of developing a sustainable commercial and recreational salmon fishery through aligning catches on the scientific advice holds out the strong prospect of a recovery of stocks and of a long term sustainable fishery for both sectors.