Government ‘had no choice’ over salmon net ban

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern last night said he had no choice but to wipe out drift-net salmon fishing, but insisted he understood the concerns of those people whose livelihoods have been ruined by the decision.

Mr Ahern said the Government was faced with a position were it had to move otherwise there would soon be no salmon left to catch.

“We could not ignore the scientific advice of experts because traditional Irish salmon would become non-existent,” he said.