Committee urges Government to act on drift nets

A PARLIAMENTARY committee has urged the Government to reverse its policy on salmon conservation by introducing a voluntary buyout scheme for fishermen.

Ireland is the only country in Europe that still allows drift-net fishing for salmon on its seas. The policy has been blamed by critics for big declines in salmon stocks.

The Oireachtas Committee on Marine and Natural resources yesterday published a report on Irish salmon stocks, after a hearing process involving almost 100 submissions and presentations.