Controversy over fishing ban on salmon

THERE were strong indications last night that the Government will give the go-ahead this morning for a ban on salmon drift net fishing, only hours before the issue is discussed by an all-party committee.

Expectations are that Communications and Marine Minister Noel Dempsey will strongly argue that the report — which recommends an outright ban on drift net fishing in Irish waters — be adopted in full.

Senior sources suggested last night that Mr Dempsey’s stance was likely to be accepted by his ministerial colleagues.

The decision, if made this morning, will come only hours before the report is discussed by the all-party committee on Communications and the Marine.

The three-member expert group’s main finding has proved to be contentious with a number of Fianna Fáil TDs from coastal constituencies. Eleven members of the parliamentary party are opposed to a compulsory ban, including Cork South West TD Denis O’Donovan and three junior ministers, Pat the Cope Gallagher, Frank Fahey and Michael Ahern.

However, other TDs favour the total ban including Kilkenny TD John McGuinness who has been a vocal critic of some Government policies.

Fine Gael and Sinn Féin have also criticised the report, for not allowing voluntary decommissioning of drift net operations. However, both the Labour Party and the Green Party support its findings.

Mr Dempsey is expected to argue that the findings were sensible and align with the scientific evidence which recommends drastic measures to be introduced by 2007, to remedy the dramatic decline in salmon stocks.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin yesterday pointed to “serious scientific evidence of the decline of salmon, particularly in east coast rivers”.

Committee chairman, Noel O’Flynn said the committee would ask for the basis of its conclusions; how it arrived at a sum of €30 million in hardship compensation for driftnet fishermen and what contribution the angling and angling tourism sectors would be expected to make.

Meanwhile, hundreds of fishermen and their families will protest in Dublin tomorrow afternoon against the implantation of the report.

The Irish South and West Fisherman’s Organisation said yesterday that the group’s report would spell “devastation for the commercial fishing sector”.

Meanwhile, the Salmon and Sea Trout Recreational Anglers of Ireland yesterday fully endorsed the Government’s stance of the Salmon Review Group and Ireland fully aligning itself to the European Habitats Directive.