John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps he intends to take on the issue of salmon draft and drift netting following the publication of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources' report and the recent protest of nearly 4,000 anglers and commercial nets men at the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis; the person he has consulted to date regarding the report; his views on whether salmon stocks are at such a level that action must be taken; his further views on whether there is massive public opinion in support of a buy out or set aside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34376/05]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The recently published report by the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources regarding the future management of the wild salmon resource in Ireland has illuminated the various and wide ranging issues surrounding the management of this important natural resource. When addressing the public hearings held by the joint committee in connection with the preparation of its report, I made the point that the management of this natural resource is rarely a simple and straightforward matter. I also reiterated the Government's long held view that our wild salmon stock is a national asset, which must be conserved and protected, as well as being exploited as a resource by all on a shared and sustainable basis.

I am pleased, therefore, to note from the report that the joint committee acknowledges the complexity of this issue and makes "The unequivocal observation that its report must not be seen in terms of winners or losers and that the debate and focus of effort must be on the survival of the salmon species." I will examine carefully the recommendations now being made by the joint committee in its report. Indeed, as an immediate first step, I have already asked the National Salmon Commission to ensure that the joint committee's report receives priority in its consideration on how best the wild salmon resource may be managed, conserved and exploited on a shared and sustainable basis into the future, having regard to Government policy.

I am aware that the joint committee's report contains a recommendation for a move to single stock management and that the committee recognises this would effectively mean a cessation of drift netting for salmon. I note, however, that the committee also recognises that a move to single stock management would take time, cannot be achieved without further and significant scientific input and that a realistic plan needs to be evolved to enable such a move. Wild salmon stocks are under threat from a variety of sources. While there remains an abundance of salmon returning to Irish rivers, the Government has accepted 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. With this in mind, I have now asked the National Salmon Commission to advise me how best to achieve this target. While I remain to be convinced that a move to single stock management would necessarily mean an end to drift netting in all districts, I expect the commission to examine the issue of single stock management and to advise me in this regard.

With regard to compensation issues, I welcome the joint committee's acknowledgement that any compensatory schemes should largely be funded by those stakeholders who would be the main economic beneficiaries of more salmon being free to return to the rivers. I also welcome its comment that "Public monies spent must have, as a primary aim, ensuring the survival of the salmon species and that this precept must be regarded as more important than any economic gain to any sector that may accrue."

Bearing this principle in mind, 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 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, which I intend to consider in the context of any review of policy.