Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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153. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will publish the scientific basis for the proposal that is to be put to him to introduce a conservation by law prohibiting a person from taking, or attempting to take, an arctic char salvelinus alpinus by means of a fishery engine or rod and line from the waters of the State and to prohibit killing, retention or possession of arctic char. [55700/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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A public consultation process on a potential conservation bye-law in relation to Arctic Char will close at 5pm today (Tuesday 16 November).I am advised by IFI that Arctic char stocks are particularly susceptible to a range of anthropogenic pressures such as eutrophication, climate change, water abstraction and invasive species. The current status of Arctic char is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red data book as ‘vulnerable’. The range of environmental pressures on this species is being addressed under current EU and national legislation by a range of state agencies (including IFI, Local authorities, the Environmental Protection Authority and National Parks and Wildlife Service). IFI advise that further legislative protection may be required for Arctic char stocks.

The latest scientific report regarding status of Arctic char stocks in Ireland is available on the IFI website under Habitats Directive Report 2012. (fisheriesireland.ie).

Further information is available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/species/arctic-char-salvelinus-alpinus.