Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 491: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will allow the draft-net fishermen of Cromane, County Kerry to fish for any period this season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16166/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the Fisheries Acts, primary responsibility for the management, conservation, protection and development of inland fisheries stocks rests with the Central and the relevant Regional Fisheries Boards and in the case of the operation of draft nets in the Kerry District this is the South Western Regional Fisheries Board.

My function in this matter was to make the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order 2008 (SI No 98 of 2008), which determines the number of licences available in the Kerry Fishery District and the order of priority in which the licences will be issued by the South Western Regional Fisheries Board. I also introduced the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2007 (SI No 849 of 2007) that specify, inter alia, which rivers have a harvestable surplus according to the scientific advice. Section 11 of the regulations requires the Chief Executive Officer, South Western Regional Fisheries Board, in consultation with the Fishery District Committee, to determine the allocation of quota. I understand that the CEO has recently issued proposals on how he intends to manage the fishery in 2008.