Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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3. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the angling season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6048/21]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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14. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Inland Fisheries Ireland has delayed the opening of the angling season on rivers in County Kerry (details supplied); if they will be opened in line with the 2020 season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6156/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 14 together.

Management of each of Ireland’s more than 140 salmon rivers relates to the individual conservation needs of the rivers as each has a genetically unique stock of Salmon. The annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) supported by the annual assessment of individual stocks by, and scientific advice of, the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) underpins this management.

The annual Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations sets out the surplus available on each river and the opening period and management arrangements.  The relevant regulation for the 2021 season was enacted in December last and I can confirm that the opening and closing date has not been altered for any river in Co. Kerry for the 2021 season.  The opening date for salmon angling on the Rivers Maine & Brown Flesk remains at 17 March to 30 September as it was during the 2020 and previous seasons.

In addition, the Salmon and Trout Conservation Bye-Law No.623 of 1981 established that the first day of the close season for Salmon rod and line angling on the River Maine, including Brown Flesk, is 1 October each year. The last day of the close season remained at 16 March in each year. The close season for Sea Trout and Brown Trout begins on 13^thOctober and ends on 16^thMarch each year. In that regard the close season on these rivers is long established to meet the conservation imperative.