Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of money that has been set aside for counting and restocking salmon in the River Barrow in 2012. [4622/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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The Barrow is one of 141 rivers assessed nationally each year to determine whether they can be a) opened for salmon fishing, b) opened to salmon fishing on a catch and release basis, or c) closed to salmon fishing. These assessments show that it is substantially below its salmon conservation limit and stocks are being allowed to rebuild naturally in accordance with best international practise. In that context, restocking does not take place in the Barrow as, on foot of scientific and management advice, reliance on natural selection and habitat improvement is the best way to assist wild stocks to improve.

Increased upstream escapement of adult fish to spawn in high quality freshwater spawning and nursery waters is the best and most sustainable means to secure the future of River Barrow salmon. Over recent years, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has also carried out an extensive catchment-wide electrofishing survey in the Barrow to assess juvenile salmon abundance. A total of 84 sites were surveyed and salmon fry were present at 60 of these sites. The mean value recorded over the period surveyed in the Barrow catchment confirms that the Barrow is below the threshold which would allow the opening of the Barrow for catch-and-release angling.

In 2012 another juvenile electrofishing survey of the Barrow is planned. It is estimated that 32 field man days will be required to complete this survey. While this represents a significant investment the work involved is mainstreamed into IFI activity. Costs associated with the exercises undertaken on the rivers, including the Barrow, as part of the day to day functions of IFI personnel in the areas concerned, cannot be disaggregated from overall costs of IFI activities. I can, however, advise the Deputy that the work involved on the Barrow will be supported by additional expenditure of some €5,000 in 2012, which covers support expenditure for field staff and contract personnel from UCC, over and above the element of day to day functional costs.