Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that, along with other major salmon rivers in Ireland, the River Feale contains a genetically unique population of salmon. Best scientific advice, both nationally and internationally, indicates that the introduction of a salmon hatchery operation into a wild salmon fishery can reduce the ability of the genetically distinct native strain to survive and results in the loss of their adaptability to their catchment.

The advice also indicates that the issue of decline of salmon stocks in a particular catchment, leaving aside the international issue of survival at sea, is best dealt with through improvements in water quality and salmon habitat.

Stocking, for conservation purposes, in cases where artificial intervention is required to maintain the genetically distinct salmon strain under threat, could be considered.

This is not the case, however, in the River Feale whose salmon stock is above the Conservation Limit particular to its own unique stock and which has an annual surplus of salmon available for exploitation. Nevertheless, I do recognise recent concerns over the longer term decline in salmon numbers on the River Feale, and understand from IFI that efforts are being made to monitor these stocks, quantify any stock variations and to establish and address potential reasons for a decline.

In this regard a survey of the juvenile salmon population, planned for the Feale in 2013, will allow the juvenile salmon stock status to be assessed against baseline surveys carried over the past 20 years. Once the Feale salmon stock assessment has been analysed any remedial action necessary can then be considered.