Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will extend the fishing season for salmon fishing on the River Maine, County Kerry, which closes on 30 September (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19646/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I can inform the Deputy that Ireland's salmon rivers are managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on an individual basis, with the available surpluses (if any) of salmon calculated annually. The annual surplus of salmon available on the River Maine is divided between the commercial and recreational anglers. The following table is for the Deputy's information, outlining the surpluses since 2010 when the river re-opened to angling and commercial fishing.

I am advised by IFI that any extension to the recreational angling season would need to be based on scientific analysis of available surplus, catch returns, counter information, run timing, exploitation rates etc. However, as I have already stated the River Maine has only reopened since 2010 and a longer time series of data may be required to support such an analysis.