Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 984: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1064 and 1065 of 16 September 2009, his views on issuing draftnet licences or snapnet licences to those fishermen in the Suir estuary who still have driftnet licences, on a temporary basis until driftnet fishing may be resumed on the River Suir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38631/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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As I outlined in my reply to previous questions referred to by the Deputy, the primary motivation in aligning the management of the wild salmon fishery with the scientific advice and the introduction of the appropriate regulations to cease mixed stock fishing is the conservation of the wild salmon stocks.

It is not possible to relax the conservation measures other than where river stocks recover and it is established from the results of the scientific analysis that significant numbers of fish destined for other rivers are not intercepted. It should be possible, in those circumstances, to exploit the identified surplus in rivers, bays and estuaries by all methods, within the constraints permitted by the Habitats Directive.

As regards the fishery on the River Suir, if, in the future, stocks recover to the extent that there is a harvestable surplus of salmon, it should be possible to allow commercial fishing to resume, subject to quota restrictions as necessary.

The allocation of licences will be provided for in the normal way under the provisions of the relevant Control of Fishing for Salmon Order, amended to provide for the inclusion of the appropriate fishing methods. The Order would also provide that those fishermen who did not avail of the Salmon Hardship Scheme will retain priority status since they last had an opportunity to fish.