Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 126: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if a scheme for the voluntary buying out of drift or draft net salmon fishing licences will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34473/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 156: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the arrangements he intends putting in place to negotiate a possible future compensation package for the fishermen who agree to the cessation of commercial netting for wild salmon; if compensation was paid to commercial fishermen affected by the ending of the drift netting for tuna fish; and the effect such a precedent has in regard to the salmon fishery. [34541/05]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 156 together.

The Government has consistently ruled out buy out 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 buy out of commercial salmon licences or 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 buy out 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 have indicated that 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 I have referred the broad outline proposals, which were submitted to me recently, to the National Salmon Commission for an objective evaluation in accordance with its terms of reference in the overall context of conservation management measures designed to achieve the alignment of national and district total allowable catches and quotas. I await its advice in this regard. Since taking up my appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for the marine, I have reaffirmed the Government's 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.

The decision of the Council of Fisheries Ministers to ban drift netting for tuna did not amount to the ending of the tuna fishery. During a phase out period between 1998 and 2002, and as part of the transition process to new methods of fishing for tuna, Bord Iascaigh Mhara provided support to interested fishermen to develop alternative fishing techniques. The results of trials undertaken in this regard have shown that it is possible to catch tuna with non-drift netting techniques and in these circumstances the question of compensation did not arise.