Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider relaxing the rules for draft net fishermen on a lough (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6467/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I am informed that in the case of bays and estuaries into which two or more rivers flow, the expert advice requires that all impacted rivers are meeting their conservation limits before harvest of salmon stocks is permitted.

At present, the published assessment in respect of the common estuary in Lough Swilly indicates that the rivers Mill, Swilly and Lennan are not meeting their conservation limits. The only river meeting its conservation limit is the Crana according to the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2011 (No 323, 2010). Accordingly, for conservation reasons, the harvest of fish is not permissible in the area referred to by the Deputy. The status of the stocks of salmon rivers is reviewed annually.