Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the conservation requirements which led to the suspension of draft net fishing on inland rivers; if draft net fishing can resume on certain rivers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18503/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Salmon management is aligned with scientific advice. In that regard, the primary determinant of facilitating fishing is the availability of a harvestable surplus above the individual river’s conservation limit, which is the number of adult spawning fish required to maintain a viable population as scientifically established.

On the general matter of these conservation requirements, I wish to advise the Deputy that while the percentage of groundwater bodies and coastal water bodies in satisfactory quality is well above the European average, our rivers, lakes and estuaries are not doing as well. Only 50 per cent of rivers, 69 per cent of lakes and 36 per cent of estuaries are in satisfactory ecological health. Furthermore, while there have been some improvements, these are being cancelled out by declines during 2016-2021. There has been a marked decline in the water quality of our estuaries, with an additional 15.7% that are no longer in a satisfactory condition. Significant agricultural pressures include run-off of nutrients and sediment from agricultural lands and farmyards, and the contamination of surface waters with pesticides. Nutrients and other substances discharged from waste water treatment plants can lead to organic and nutrient enrichment with consequent impacts on dissolved oxygen levels and biological communities Further Details are available from the EPA website: www.epa.ie/our-services/monitoring--assessment/assessment/irelands-environment/water/

Harvest of rivers below their conservation limit is not permitted as this would increase pressures on already vulnerable stocks and potentially severely damage their longer term viability and the biodiversity in their aquatic habitat. In that context, facilitating harvest in these circumstances would be irresponsible and run counter to the conservation imperative and the EU Habitats Directive. Scientific assessments are carried out annually and the status of each stock will be reviewed again later this year.

I have been advised by IFI that Conservation Limits for the rivers Feale, Galley and Brick have not been achieved to facilitate responsible harvest, either recreationally or commercially, in 2023. Consequently, in adherence to scientific and management advice, these rivers are open for Catch and Release Angling only in 2023.