Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 287: To ask the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources when the ban on the driftnetting of salmon will commence; and the arrangements in place to ensure compliance with these regulations. [13618/07]

John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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A variety of instruments apply to the management of the wild salmon fishery. In the case of the commercial fishery, there are two key instruments, the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (No. 2) Regulations 2006 — S.I. No. 672 of 2006 and the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order 2007 — S.I. No 129 of 2007. The former contains provisions for the regulation of salmon river quotas and the latter details the number and type of commercial fishing licences that may be allocated in any fisheries district.

As that order contains no provision for the allocation of drift net licences and limits the number of other licences, this effectively closes the mixed stock fishery for salmon. The tagging scheme regulations have been in operation since the beginning of 2007. The Control of Fishing for Salmon Order 2007 came into force on 22 March 2007. The commercial fishery does not commence until May this year.