John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if, in view of the advice that has been presented by the National Salmon Commission's standing scientific committee, he will give a commitment that all drift-netting of wild salmon in the open seas will discontinue at the end of this season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13748/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I announced on 24 March that I had decided to adopt the recommendations made to me by the National Salmon Commission, NSC, on the total allowable salmon catch for 2006. This will involve reductions in the quota available to both commercial fishermen and anglers in 2006. In doing so I have also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to fully align with the scientific advice provided on the management of the wild salmon fishery by 2007.

Accepting the recommendations of the National Salmon Commission and the National Fisheries Management Executive, the total allowable catch in 2006 will be 91,367 for the commercial sector and 15,000 for angling, fully complying with the national conservation limits established by the standing scientific committee. These reductions in overall fishing effort are required in order to sustain and rebuild wild salmon stocks nationwide.

The standing scientific committee has indicated that mixed stock fisheries pose particular threats to the status of individual stocks and that fisheries operated in estuaries and rivers are more likely to fulfil national requirements and international obligations. In this context the National Fisheries Management Executive has identified a range of pilot projects to facilitate the commercial fishery to move from areas of indiscriminate mixed stock fishery exploitation. The feasibility of these projects will be evaluated by the Department in conjunction with the fisheries boards and the Marine Institute with a view to their implementation in 2007 and beyond.

I recognise the considerable efforts made by the commercial fishing industry over the past number of years to build a sustainable fishery and they have endured large cuts in the quotas available to them. I realise that these reductions have caused them difficulty and that full alignment with the scientific advice will likely compound these problems. For these reasons, I have decided to appoint an independent group to examine the implications of the new regulations for the commercial sector in 2007 and beyond and to make recommendations on the options available to address any financial hardship that may arise.