Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

634. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide the text of the current by-law restricting the killing of sea trout caught by rod and line in the Connemara region; the population statistics justifying these restrictions; if he will provide a full explanation as to the way this by-law was drafted, published, and subsequently signed into law, including the public consultation procedure involved; the scientific reasoning behind the decision to restrict the killing of sea trout; and the publication dates, enforcement periods and copies of the relevant by-laws restricting the killing of sea trout in the western region since 1990. [25001/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Byelaws prohibiting the killing of sea trout were introduced following the collapse of the sea trout stocks in the West from the early 1990’s and the failure of these stocks to recover to pre-1990 levels. I have included a copy of the Conservation of Sea Trout Bye-law, No. 834 of 2008 which covers the Fishery Districts of Galway, Connemara, Ballinakill, and also part of the Bangor district.

I have also included, a graphic illustration of the stock levels 1974 -2012 which shows the collapse and the lack of recovery. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that fisheries staff enforce this byelaw in the areas concerned in line with the conservation imperative for this stock.

I would be happy to arrange for IFI to provide a full briefing on the scientific and management rationale for the measure.