Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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422. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider reinstating all salmon draft net fishing licences for previous licence holders in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18617/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy is seeking consideration of the possibility of reinstating licences for former salmon fishermen who availed of the Salmon Hardship Scheme which was funded by the State to facilitate a cessation of fishing.

The Hardship Scheme was introduced following a Government decision to cease the commercial salmon mixed stock fishery in the sea for conservation reasons. Under this scheme, which was administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), €25m was targeted at commercial salmon fishermen who were active in the fishery at the time and funding was provided to fishermen for them to leave the fishery and diversify into new activity. It closed for applications on 31st December 2007 and was wound up in 2008 with all funds expended.

While the scheme was administered by BIM, I understsand that payments to individuals were based on verifiable track record and recorded catches in the five years prior to its introduction. The average payment under the scheme was almost €23,000 and the highest payment was over €195,000.

Conditions of the scheme included that nets had to be verifiably decommissioned to the satisfaction of the then local Regional Fisheries Board and those fishermen who availed of the Hardship Scheme would not be entitled to a licence in the future. Given the conditions of the Scheme it is not possible to reinstate licences for fishermen who availed of it.