Conservation group calls on Government to enforce drift net ban

A conservation group has today warned that Ireland’s salmon stocks will be in danger if the Government does not enforce its ban on drift nets.

“Today is the last day on which drift netting for salmon will be carried on legally in Irish waters, if the Government stands by previous commitments,” the chair of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now, Niall Greene said today.

“The ending of drift netting is a significant milestone for all of those concerned about the future of Irish salmon. Indiscriminate drift netting has played a major role in the decline of our salmon stocks and unless this practice is ended the future of the salmon will remain critical.

“Anglers, tourism interests and conservationists have battled hard to convince the Government that its policy must change. We have been assisted in that campaign by the EU Commission which issued a final written warning to Ireland in June in relation to the Government’s management of salmon stocks.

“Ireland, despite all the difficulties that face the salmon in the future, now has an unparalleled opportunity to reverse the decline in stocks. It is important that we grasp it.”