Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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93. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that best practice is being followed by Inland Fisheries Ireland in their policy of allowing the exploitation of endangered and protected stock of wild salmon by means of catch and release angling. [24816/14]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is the practice of Inland Fisheries Ireland to carry out assessments of factors leading to the mortality of wild salmon which have been subjected to catch and release angling; and if studies have been carried out on delayed mortality following catch and release angling, will they be published. [24817/14]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.

I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that the independent Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon has emphasised the value of having reliable information to provide a population estimate to support the conservation management of wild salmon on an individual river basis. This independent Committee includes Scientists from IFI, the Marine Institute, BIM, ESB, the Loughs Agency and the Agri-Food and Bioscienes Institute (AFBI) Northern Ireland.

Consequently, since 2007, and in order to provide a population index, on rivers where no harvest fishery (recreational or commercial) is permitted, it has been recommended that catch and release angling may be permitted on catchments achieving in excess of 65% of the rivers Conservation Limit.

I am advised that research has shown that very low levels of mortality are associated with catch and release angling when practised correctly and using single barbless hooks as required by law. Ireland’s wild salmon management regime is now viewed by NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation) parties and others as exemplary in an international context and satisfies the reporting requirements of the EU’s Habitats Directive.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has conducted research on mortality associated with Catch and Release angling for salmon in three Irish rivers over a two year period; this research has been submitted for publication and is currently in the peer review process.

Results of this research show high survival of salmon after Catch and Release when conducted using proper guidelines practised correctly and demonstrates that opening rivers to C&R angling provides a valuable tool to provide information on salmon stock status while not significantly impacting on salmon survival.