Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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408. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of his recent discussions with the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, regarding the review of pike controls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52644/17]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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409. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concerns being expressed in counties Mayo and Galway about proposals to relax pike control; his views on whether these proposals will harm trout fisheries in particular; if his attention has been further drawn to the importance of the wild brown trout fisheries in these counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52645/17]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together.

IFI has been involved in the management of pike in designated Wild Brown Trout Fisheries for a number of years.  In August 2014 IFI launched policies on brown trout and pike. These policies, approved by the Board of IFI, were developed by two working groups which included inter aliarepresentatives from the main Trout and Pike Angling Federations.

A review of these policies was scheduled to commence in 2017. However, recognising the views of some stakeholders in relation to elements of the policies, the Board of IFI decided to bring forward the review period and commence the process in 2016 with a public consultation process.  The public consultation process was held in November 2016 through which more than 300 submissions were received.

One of the most important issues considered in the previous policies relates to the management of pike in designated Wild Brown Trout fisheries. In late 2016, a Review Group, across all disciplines in IFI, was established to specifically consider this issue.  The Review Group met with Pike and Trout representative bodies in January 2017 following which representatives from a number of these organisations were invited to join the Group.

In May 2017, the Group, including the pike and trout angling representatives, met for two information gathering meetings at which a number of expert scientists made presentations. The Review Group subsequently reviewed and assimilated the data and information provided during the two information gathering meetings.  The Group reconvened in September 2017.

The presentations delivered to the Group, along with minutes of the meetings and the public consultation submissions, are publicly available on the IFI website: www.fisheriesireland.ie.

IFI have advised that the report of the Review Group is expected to be finalised in 2018. Therefore, no proposals have been made as regards relaxing pike controls or any other matter.  Decisions on any change in the management of Pike and Trout will be made as soon as possible after the Group reports.

I want to emphasise that while the policy review is underway, delivery of current IFI pike management practices has continued in line with the existing policy.  Therefore, there has been no change to current policy or practice regarding the management of pike in designated wild brown trout fisheries.  Stock management operations are normally commenced in February each year and IFI will continue to implement stock management programmes, in line with current policy.