Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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1251. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when a review of the salmon fishing drift net ban which was imposed on inshore fishermen in 2006 will occur (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35280/17]

Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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1252. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will consider a pilot project in which a number of fishermen from each county would take part in a scheme overseen by the Marine Institute to ascertain sea stocks, the results of which would determine the need for a salmon fishing drift net ban on the inshore fishing community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35281/17]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1251 and 1252 together.

Ireland manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis. This management is carried out by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the State Agency with statutory responsibility for inland fisheries. The management policy is based on the fact that each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers, river sections, estuaries etc. has its own genetically unique stock of salmon which migrates to sea as juveniles and returns to the same river in adulthood to spawn and create the next generation of fish exclusive to that river.

IFI is supported in its management role by scientific advice from Ireland’s Standing Scientific Committee. IFI also draws on international advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).  Research in coastal areas and in the marine environment concentrates on increasing knowledge of migratory patterns, marine based mortality and return rates to home rivers as stock assessments can only be carried out on the individual stock in each river.

The Atlantic salmon is a protected species under the EU Habitats Directive with which Ireland’s current salmon management regime complies. In order to align fully with the Directive and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) principles and in view of a sharp decline in salmon stocks, the Irish Government closed mixed stock fisheries in 2007 including coastal and offshore fishing for salmon. Harvest fisheries are now only allowed on individual river stocks which are shown to have a surplus and in estuaries where the stocks from individual rivers entering the estuary are each meeting their individual conservation limits.

A Salmon Hardship Scheme was introduced in 2007 under which, fishermen active in the commercial salmon fishery could opt to permanently cease fishing. In excess of €25 million was allocated to the scheme to facilitate payments to fishermen, with a further €5 million provided for community development projects.  The scheme closed for applications on 31 December 2007 and ceased in 2008 with all funds expended.  It is considered that river stocks would be in a far more perilous state if the closure of mixed stock fisheries had not been implemented.

During migration from rivers to marine feeding grounds, salmon from both rivers in Ireland and rivers in other countries travel through Ireland’s coastal waters. These "mixed stocks" pose particular difficulties for management as they contain individual fish often from a wide range of rivers some of which are below sustainable reproductive capacity. Any deviation from current policy would be contrary to the international independent scientific advice as the “home river” of off-shore salmon cannot be identified and it is not possible to disaggregate the individuals or stock groups at sea.

Such a move could potentially lead to conflict with EU and international obligations on grounds of not protecting vulnerable Irish and international salmon stocks. The conservation imperative demands that current salmon stocks are not further eroded by mismanagement or inappropriate exploitation, whether via angling, commercial fisheries in rivers inland or through the operation of indiscriminate mixed stock fisheries at sea or in estuaries.

Ireland is committed to international agreements entered into at EU level and at NASCO and the prohibition of mixed stock fisheries is a key element of international best practice in salmon conservation and management.