Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 322: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of fish counters currently in operation in Irish rivers; the location of rivers and specification of each such counter; the date of installation and regularity of monitoring; the information collected from each such counter; the number of counters requested to deal with each river; the name of each river not covered at the moment; the action he will take to install all necessary river counters; the estimated cost; the estimated time scale; the extra personnel to monitor all counters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37452/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

There are currently 19 locations with 21 operational fish counters in Irish Rivers including ESB owned and operated counters and Loughs Agency counters. Many of the counters were installed under the Tourism Operational Programme (TOP) of the Tourism Angling Measure (TAM) which occurred between 1995 and 2000. A number of counters purchased under this programme were subsequently installed between 2000 and 2005. Some have been in operation in one form or another prior to 1995 (ESB counters, Loughs Agency at Sion Mills, Blackwater counter). Since 2000, there has been considerable upgrading and ongoing improvements and maintenance on these counters.

Monitoring of counters is site dependent but usually Regional Fishery Board staff provide regular inspection (at least twice per week) to clean fish passes, scrub infra-red plates, brush electrodes and other standard maintenance if required. If water conditions are very high this may be carried out daily. More technical maintenance (e.g. replacement or upgrading of components, electronic failure etc) is carried out by the Marine Institute or by way of sub-contract and occurs when reported and when resources are available to deal with the specific problem.

Standard information on upstream and downstream counts is available as well as relative size of the fish, dates and times of fish movement. In some instances counts are verified with video surveillance and supplementary information is therefore available on species (salmon vs. sea trout or eels). Depending on the size of the river and the number of main tributaries, several counters may be used to provide a definitive count of all of the potential stocks components entering the main system as these can differ in terms of run timing, ration of 1 sea winter to multi sea winter salmon etc. However, a single strategically placed counter provides a useable index of the size of the salmon stock for routine management purposes.

I have set out three tables, the first of which lists the rivers where counters are installed and can provide information for national assessments. The second table consists of rivers above conservation limit with no fish counter and the third table consists of rivers below the conservation limit with no fish counter.

There has been a considerable investment in the National Fish Counter Programme over the past number of years. As the Deputy may be aware it was decided in June 2003 that the management of all of the existing counters be transferred to the relevant Regional Fisheries Boards and it is a matter for each Board to decide on its priorities in relation to investment in counters within their overall allocation of Exchequer funding for capital and current purposes.

In so far as real time monitoring and management of stocks is concerned, counters are only one method by which the assessment is made. Reliance is also placed on the expert analysis of catch data and surveys by fisheries officers and research officers of spawning areas, fish populations and habitat etc.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 323: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if it is proposed to acquire all non-filament net used by heretofore licensed salmon drift net fisherman in order to see that no further drift net fishing occurs; the way it is proposed to implement and oversee the effect of the decision to ban drift nets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37453/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is aware that the Government adopted the key recommendations of the report by the Independent Group established to examine the implications of fully aligning the management of the wild salmon fishery with the scientific advice in 2007 and beyond. The central recommendation of this report is the creation of a hardship fund for those affected by the compulsory cessation of indiscriminate mixed stock fishing at sea.

One of the key recommendations of the Independent Group in addressing the financial hardship is that in every case those who avail of the direct payment scheme will be required to verifiably decommission their net(s) or fixed fishing engines to the satisfaction of the competent authority.

In 2006 the fisheries boards' allocation of funding from the Exchequer is €28 million. A large proportion of the boards' resources has been and continues to be allocated to the protection of wild salmon, including sea, land and river based protection programmes. The national protection programme is supported by the Navy, Air Corps and the Garda.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 324: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the assessed extent of illegal drift net fishing that took place from 2000 to 2006; the estimated extent of salmon taken illegally in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37454/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Fisheries Acts, the central and regional fisheries boards are primarily responsible for the management and protection of fisheries including measures in relation to enforcement.

The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Scheme, first introduced by the Department through the fisheries boards in 2002, is intended to inter alia identify illegally caught salmon, eliminate sales outlets for such illegal fish and to improve traceability in the distribution chain. The programme provided, for the first time, an estimate of the previously unrecorded illegal catch in Ireland, which at that time, I am advised, was estimated at about 32%.

The current mandatory application of carcass tags and logbooks has alleviated some of the difficulty in identifying illegally caught salmon. Almost 100% of commercial fishing logbooks and 58% of anglers' logbooks were returned to the fisheries boards in 2004. An adjustment to the reported catch to take into account the numbers of fish that have been caught by anglers who have not returned logbooks is made in accordance with international practice.

The national illegal unreported catch of wild salmon is currently assumed to be approximately 10%. Based on direct monitoring of dealers and knowledge of the local fisheries, this is considered by many fishery inspectors to be an overestimate.

A large proportion of all fisheries boards' resources have been and continue to be allocated to the protection of wild salmon. Efforts concentrate on the elimination of the practice of illegal fishing, by both the Central and Regional Boards. These include sea, land and river based protection programmes. The National Protection programme is integrated with the Navy, Air Corps and the Gardaí. Ongoing monitoring of catch statistics is achieved through the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme.

Statistics in this regard are detailed in the annual Fisheries Statistics Report of the Central Fisheries Board and the fisheries boards' annual report.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 325: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources his reason for the decline in the catch of white trout in the past 10 years; the evidence presented to him by scientific advice in this regard; the action he has taken on foot of such evidence presented to him; his agenda for action for the future survival of the species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37456/06]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A review of the status of Irish sea trout stocks has been carried out by staff from the Central and Western Regional Fisheries Boards and the Marine Institute. The report will be published before Christmas.

The paper will provide historical data and will update the national trap census and rod catch data from 1989 up to 2003. It will also provide an assessment of the current status of Irish sea trout stocks nationally.

I will consider whether and what action is required after I receive the report.