Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the rivers here which have recording systems to accurately monitor the number of salmon returning to the river each year; and his plans and timetable for the expansion of such monitoring systems. [20773/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the National Fish Counter programme is to assess the status of populations of salmon in key index rivers and provide scientific input to salmon stock management for use by the fisheries boards, the Marine Institute, the National Salmon Commission and the Department. It is also intended to contribute towards fulfilment of Ireland's international commitments to the EU, ICES and NASCO, to establish conservation limits and other biological reference points for all Irish salmon stocks and to maintain Irish stocks above these conservation limits by means of appropriate management targets.

I am advised that fish counting systems have been installed on the following Irish salmon and sea trout rivers identified by district: Dee (Dundalk), Boyne (Drogheda), Liffey (Dublin), Slaney (Wexford), Suir (Waterford), Bandon (Cork), Lee (Cork), Kerry Blackwater (Kerry), Laune (Kerry), Waterville (Kerry), Feale (Kerry), Casla (Connemara), Gowla, Invermore, Erriff (Ballinakill), Moy (Ballina), Munhin (Bangor), Ballysadare (Sligo), Garravogue (Sligo), Eany (Ballyshannon), Eske (Ballyshannon) Finn, Culdaff and Dungloe (Donegal), Clady (Letterkenny), Erne (Donegal).

I am advised that the Marine Institute has installed the majority of these counters in conjunction with the regional fisheries boards, fishery owners, engineers from the Department and consultants/ contractors. In some instances counters have been installed by the fisheries boards, the ESB, or the Loughs Agency and there are also a number of fish counters on privately owned fisheries.

The overall management of the National Fish Counter Programme has, to date, been primarily the responsibility of the Marine Institute, which has operated directly or by sub-contracting where necessary in order to maintain the objectives of the programme. There has been considerable investment in the counter programme over the past number of years and I expect the regional fisheries boards and the Marine Institute to collaborate closely in managing the fish counter programme in the most effective and efficient way possible.

The Marine Institute and the Central and regional fisheries boards are currently reviewing the arrangements in respect of the operational, data management, quality assurance issues and any necessary expansion of the national fish counter programme. I expect this review to be completed shortly so that the national management programme will be enhanced, within available resources.