Experts urge reduction in wild salmon quota for 2006
Expert advice to the National Salmon Commission suggests a total allowance catch for 2006 of 106,000 - a near 50% reduction within a three-year period.
The concerns of scientists will give added impetus to national and international campaigns to end drift netting in Ireland. The Standing Scientific Committee reportedly discovered that rivers in only four of the country’s 17 fishery districts have met conservation limits for spawning stock. The StopNow campaign, fighting for an end to drift netting, yesterday urged the Government to proceed with proposed measures for an “orderly end” to commercial netting of wild Atlantic salmon.
Niall Greene, who heads the campaign, said: “The sole conclusion from the expert advice given to the National Salmon Commission is that Ireland can no longer play fast and loose with its salmon stocks. Drift netting must be phased out as quickly as possible.”
The role of the National Salmon Commission is to advise the marine minister on the total allowance catch (TAC) for 2006. The proposed quota is down about 18% on last year’s TAC of 125,000 salmon.
Salmon spawners were below 50% of the approved conservation limits in eight of the 17 fishery districts.
The Standing Scientific Committee reportedly advised the commission yesterday that, if Ireland were to meet national conservation targets and its international commitments to the safeguarding of North Atlantic wild salmon, catching in 2006 should be confined to estuaries in four districts.
A Department of The Marine spokesman said that the scientific body did not specifically recommend a total ban on drift netting.
