Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when salmon fishing will open up in Castlemaine Harbour, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9323/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, Castlemaine Harbour has been closed to commercial fishing since the introduction of the South Western Fisheries Region (No. 7 or Kerry District) Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No. 844, 2008.

The decision to close the harbour to salmon fishing was based on scientific advice on the status of the wild salmon stocks in the rivers which flow into the common estuary. A pilot project was undertaken in 2010 to determine how a salmon fishery could be operated on salmon stocks in the harbour, maximising the opportunities for commercial fishing while ensuring that at-risk stocks are not compromised and surplus stocks are not over exploited.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is due to report to me on the results of the pilot project in early May. I intend to publish the report and consequential recommendations as soon as possible following my consideration of it.