Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the locations used for counting fish in the River Barrow. [20960/11]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the criteria used to count fish in the River Barrow. [20961/11]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the financial resources available in 2011 for the upkeep, maintenance and restocking of the River Barrow. [20962/11]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of money allocated in 2011 for the upkeep, maintenance and restocking of the River Barrow; the amount of the allocation that was spent; and the location of the remaining balance. [20963/11]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 313: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a fish counter will be made available to accurately count fish in the River Barrow. [20964/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 309 to 313, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy may be aware, the Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) carries out an appropriate assessment of salmon stocks in compliance with the Habitats Directive and provides annual advice in relation to this. I am advised that fish counters represent only one of an array of methods by which stocking levels are assessed. Reliance is also placed on expert analysis of catch data, surveys by fisheries officers and research officers of spawning beds, fish populations, habitats and electro-fishing surveys.

While trials have been undertaken with a DIDSON counter on a tributary of the Barrow in the past, in common with a number of other rivers there is currently no permanent fish counter on the River Barrow. I understand, however, that the Barrow is listed as a priority for the identification and installation of a counter under Inland Fisheries Ireland's Counter Programme.

As regards the criteria used to assess the performance of the river, the analysis of rod catch over the period 2002 to 2006 indicated that the Barrow was not meeting its salmon conservation limit. A survey of juvenile salmon stocks has been undertaken throughout the Barrow catchment since 2007, with an average fry density of 11.7 fry recorded over the three years as can be seen in the following table. Analysis by the SSC indicates that the majority of the rivers known to be meeting and exceeding salmon conservation limits have a catchment-wide salmon fry index of 17 or higher. The Barrow average is significantly below this index threshold. The river will be surveyed again during 2011.

Catchment-wide electro-fishing results, River Barrow, 2007-2010

A Salmon Survey conducted by IFI in the Waterford Estuary in 2010 was required to provide, inter alia, a qualitative assessment of salmon stock abundance on the river Barrow where no stock estimate is currently available. While I await a report of the findings of the survey, I understand the river Barrow (including the Pollmounty river) has remained consistently below its conservation limit compared to the rivers Nore and Suir.

Percentage of Conservation Limit achieved by river, 2007-2011

The upkeep and maintenance of the River Barrow is a matter for the relevant local authorities and Waterways Ireland. Restocking does not take place in the Barrow as, on foot of scientific and management advice, there is reliance on natural selection and habitat improvement as the best way to assist wild stocks to improve.

I am advised that IFI allocates an annual budget €1.823m to operations in the South Eastern River Basin District, where the Barrow is located, managed from Clonmel. Of this, payroll account for €1.546 million in respect of the 32 staff that operate in the Barrow, Nore, Suir and Slaney catchments. I understand that IFI will provide a detailed briefing, scheduled for 27 July 2011, in respect of all of these matters at a meeting requested by the Deputy.