Countryside Alliance supports salmon campaign

Countryside Alliance Ireland has thrown its support behind a Green Party campaign to save Irish salmon stocks.

"We have been supporting Stop Irish Drift Nets Now campaign since its conception and have campaigned tenaciously to make the Government aware of the dangers and possible extinction that is facing the Atlantic Salmon," said an Alliance statement.

"The government has continued to ignore the report issued by the National Salmon Commission stating that the sustainable catch for wild salmon in 2005 should be no more than 97,000 for nets and 27,500 by rod anglers. The fisheries boards and fishing industry representatives voted for a larger quota of 139,000 fish to be caught by net.

"This quota is unsustainable and will leave the wild salmon at a level where it may never return to our shores."

Countryside Alliance Ireland is asking the Minister for Fisheries to reconsider this quota level and further reduce the level of salmon caught in nets below that recommended by the National Salmon Commission.

The Green Party salmon campaign begins next Wednesday.

Countryside Alliance Ireland is rural campaigning organisation reflecting the views of over 30,000 people throughout Ireland.