Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to the Conservation of Eel Fishing (Prohibition On Issue of Licences) Bye-Law No. 858, 2009, if he will provide a roadmap and terms of reference for the upcoming National Eel Management Plan, outlining the key stakeholders, and specifying how and when these stakeholders will be identified and engaged with; if he expects the consultation period to end; when the Eel Management Plan is due to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26417/12]

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 503: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the terms of reference of the national eel survey will be broadened to incorporate a study into the heritage value of the baited pot fishery, and other distinctive and unique fishing practices as have been carried out in the Suir Estuary; if this will be incorporated into the national eel survey, on a scientific basis in order to establish a catch per unit effort time series; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26418/12]

Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the impact the ban on eel fishing is having in terms of loss of a particular heritage and unique fishing style that has been practiced for generations in the Suir Estuary; his views on the way these very specialised and uniquely Irish practices might be documented and the knowledge recorded, preserved and passed on to future generations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26419/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 502 to 504, inclusive, together.

I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that surveys of transitional or estuarine waters during the monitoring of eels stocks under Ireland's Eel Management Plan (EMP) over the last three years showed differences between each water body and between the transitional waters and lakes.

The transitional waters contained significantly smaller eels than the lakes. The highest catch per unit effort values were recorded in the transitional waters of the Barrow/Nore/Suir. Low recapture of tagged eels most likely indicate high levels of movement within these transitional waters and make population estimation difficult The current data make it very challenging to provide an estimate of silver eel escapement/production for such a large transitional water bodies.

Due to the difficulties in obtaining density estimates for eels in large water bodies and the migratory habits of eels moving upstream into the rivers and/or leaving the transitional water as silver eel, estimating silver eel escapement/production for transitional waters remains extremely challenging.

The incorporation of baited pots into the national eel survey to establish a catch per unit effort time series will not address the current challenges of deriving a robust population estimate for eels in transitional waters.

Telemetry studies, currently underway, will give a clearer indication of the movement habits of eels in estuaries and improve population density estimates.

The National Eel Management Plan prepared in 2009 is currently being updated following the provision of three additional years of scientific research and monitoring of the status of Eels stocks.

Posting of the latest independent Standing Scientific Committee reports on eels onto Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)'s website is imminent and a link to this publication will also be available on the Department's website. IFI's three year eel monitoring report will also available on line.

Ireland's Eel Management Plan Implementation report, which details progress on Ireland's 2009 Eel Management Plan, is due to be submitted to the EU by the end of June.

In relation to the information contained in these reports and prior to consideration of the continuation of existing measures, a public consultation period will commence this month.

Submissions made during the public consultation period will be considered in formulating proposals for the management of the eel fishery for the coming years. Existing stakeholders shall be advised of the consultation period and invited to attend a series of seminars detailing the latest scientific data.