Reduced catching for salmon fishermen

THE Government was accused yesterday of putting another nail in the coffin of the commercial salmon fishing industry.

The Irish Traditional Salmon Netmen’s Association accused junior marine minister John Browne of betraying fishermen.

Revised catching regulations announced for the new season, due to start on June 1, show a slashing of last year’s quotas and a further reduction in the number of working days at sea.

“The reductions are a further kick in the teeth for salmon fishermen,” said the netmen’s association press officer Seamus De Búrca.

“The cuts in catches in 2003 are well below the scientific advice offered to the minister.”

Six of the country’s 17 districts experienced quota cuts up to 32% although the minister significantly increased the catch allowance in his own constituency.

In the Cork district alone, he said, the catch quota is reduced from 39,000 fish in 2001 to 25,247 this season.

“This continuing onslaught against salmon fishermen can’t continue,” said West Cork-based Mr De Búrca.

Meanwhile, the quota in the Shannon Region was reduced by 32% from last year.

The committee of the Shannon and Tributaries Traditional Net Fishermen’s Association claimed this season’s allocation of 14,288 worked out on average a catch of 72 fish this year for the 197 licensed fishermen.

“This is a ridiculous quota for such a large area given the amount of license holders,” the committee’s Matt Benn claimed.

Mr De Búrca, meanwhile, noted: “Since the publication of a Task Force report in 1996, netmen accepted the need for stock conservation and endured the hardship of yearly quota cuts and a 20% reduction in the length of the season.

“The fishermen demonstrated a degree of responsibility and adherence to the rules which was never before seen.

“But, with these continuing cuts, the minister has gone against his own scientific advice in certain districts and made a mockery of conservation.”

He added: “No other industry would accept being treated in this way. The minister has shown complete disregard for the livelihoods of fishermen and their families along with small communities whose very existence remains in doubt.”