Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the recovery of salmon stocks on the river Suir; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41117/09]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Standing Scientific Committee in their Report on the Status of Irish Salmon Stocks in 2008 and Precautionary Catch Advice for 2009 advised that stocks of salmon in the River Suir were below conservation limits. It is calculated that in 2007 the river Suir (including Clodiagh and Lingaun waters) was meeting 71% of its conservation limit, in 2008 79% and in 2009 it reached 85%. In order to permit a harvest of fish, the stock has to be shown to exceed the required number of spawners arriving into the river. The excess over 100% is determined as surplus and determines the total allowable catch. Accordingly, based on the management advice, angling on a catch-and-release basis only was permitted on the waters of the river Suir during the 2007 — 2009 seasons. This reflected the status of the stocks of the river.

The Southern Regional Fisheries Board and the Marine Institute continue to monitor the stocks in the River Suir with a view to identifying the extent of the recovery, if any, arising from the cessation of the harvesting of salmon and any stock rehabilitation works undertaken.

As I outlined in my reply to the Deputy's previous questions, if, in the future, stocks recover on the River Suir to the extent that there is a harvestable surplus of salmon, it should be possible to allow fishing to resume, subject to quota restrictions as necessary.

I currently await scientific and management advice for the 2010 season. Following receipt of this I will publish the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations for public consultation.