Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form the salmon counter figures from the counter at Scartleigh Dam on the River Feale from 1 January 2015 to date in 2015 on a month by month basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32427/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Inland Fisheries Ireland maintain the majority of fish counters in place on migratory salmonid rivers and, in addition to downloading raw data, undertake a detailed verification of the counts and confirm the verified counts before making them publically available. IFI produces an Annual Fish Counter Report which details the relevant verified annual runs of salmon in the rivers where such counters are operational. IFI advise that the verified and confirmed data for the Feale for 2015 are not yet available. I have asked IFI to provide the information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

I am advised by IFI that the primary index for assessing the status of salmon stocks on the River Feale is the data provided by the Feale fish counter. The annual fish counter assessment is then used in conjunction with the commercial salmon catch and the catch of salmon by anglers to input to the scientific review to generate the annual salmon return to the Feale.Counters, including that on the Feale, are used to support the management of salmon, which is a listed species under the Habitats Directive. Management is designed to ensure the stocks are appropriately protected and that an adequate stock survives to spawn over the winter to ensure the long-term survival of the genetically individual river stock.