Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

198. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the 2017 draft net salmon fishing licences for the Loughros More estuary, Owenea and Owentocker rivers remain valid; if the holders of these licences would have an entitlement to fish should the Owenea and Owentocker rivers reopen for fishing of this nature in the near future; the process for the application and issuing of licences for draft net salmon fishing on the Loughros More estuary should the rivers reopen for fishing in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10125/19]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Licences for commercial fishing, including draft net fishing, are issued annually only in respect of those rivers which are deemed open to commercial fishing by way of having a harvestable surplus sufficiently in excess of the conservation limit for that river and its genetically unique stock. In that context, licences are valid for the statutorily defined commercial fishing season during the year of their issue. They are public licences and do not confer any property or other rights on the holder.

However, annual licensing is based on the most recent track record in the fishery of the participants/applicants as set out in the relevant annual statutory provisions. Consideration of such track records can obviously only reference the years in which the rivers were open to harvest and the closure of a river does not impact the issuing of licences in this manner.