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.

Its main recommendation is that public policy must urgently move to single stock management, with one body controlling salmon fishing in the sea and on rivers, lakes and streams.

In the interim it says that voluntary schemes such as buyouts and set-aside be introduced to compensate drift net fishermen.

Committee chairman Noel O’Flynn yesterday said he hoped the recommendations made by the cross-party committee would be seriously considered by Marine Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher.

Mr Gallagher has attracted criticism for refusing to consider buyouts.

“We are talking about the survival of the species,” said Mr O’Flynn, a Cork Fianna Fail deputy.

“We have no doubt that the Government will act to ensure the survival of salmon in Ireland.”

Mr Gallagher told the Irish Examiner last night that in the light of yesterday’s report he would be willing to look at the various options (including a buyout).

He said he had referred the report to the National Salmon Commission. However, he said he didn’t want to “tie the hands” of the commission in terms of a time frame. However, any change in policy will need to come before EU fisheries quotas are set next April.

Estimates as to how much a buyout of the country’s estimated 1,500 drift net fishermen diverged widely yesterday. Niall Greene of Stock Now said it would cost no more than €25 million while the Department said the estimate could be up to €70m.

Mr Gallagher yesterday said the salmon conservation question was more complex than stocks being diminished by net fishing at sea alone.

“Many people are of the opinion that ending net fishing will be the panacea for all problems. It will not. There are also the problems of pollution, poaching, global warming and seals,” he said.

Committee member Eamon Ryan (Green Party) said the key and “adamant” recommendation of the report was a move to single stock management.

Denis O’Donovan (FF) said the mood among fishermen had changed: “A decade ago there was no appetite for buyout. Fishermen know that position is no longer viable.”