Angling tourists will come flooding back

I WISH to congratulate Environment, Marine and Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey on his recent decision to ban drift netting for salmon.

It has been warmly welcomed by the 75,000 anglers representing more than 300 angling clubs in the country. It is thanks to the efforts of these anglers, through protection and conservation measures on our rivers, that the salmon has survived. It must be remembered that we had 1.4 million salmon returning to our rivers in the late 1970s, and only 200,000 in 2005.

No crocodile tears should be shed for the netsmen when the facts are that 445 of the 877 licence-holders returned only a catch of 50 salmon each in the past five years. Compensation is based on these returns.

Do 50 salmon sold at €23 each, making an income of €1,150 per annum, represent a loss of livelihood?

The vast majority of these netsmen are only part-time and will receive €9,000 each in compensation.

Only three netsmen returned more than 1,000 salmon.

It beggars belief to know how many salmon were caught both legally and illegally. It is estimated at well over 200,000 annually.

The positive aspect of the ban is that our angling tourists will again return in numbers to match the 184,000 who used to come each year. After the ban on drift nets in Scotland, 2,800 full-time jobs were created and £113m added to the economy. I think this says it all.

Nil tír gan bradán.

Teddy Foley

Clahane

Ballyard

Tralee

Co Kerry