Don’t throw cash at drift net fishermen

I READ recently that 10,000 objections were lodged, including a comprehensive submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee of the Marine, by the Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now organisation.

This proposal detailed every aspect of the issue and spelt out the methodology of a €25 million buyout over a five-year period. This included a provision of €6.25m by anglers over that period, funded by a €50 increase in the recreational salmon fishing licence. The minister’s response was that he had yet to hear from anybody with serious proposals about buying out drift net fishermen.

The drift netting season runs from the beginning of June to the end of July. The salmon drift nets returned a catch of less than 50% of the 2004 figure - not much more than 70,000 fish. This is economic and environmental madness.

However, it is heartening to see Fianna Fáil is not buckling to the demands of salmon fishermen, and offering to buy them out, now that they have virtually destroyed the stock of wild salmon. Bertie is to be commended, as it is rare that Fianna Fáil refuses to throw money at its supporters in the agricultural or fishing industry.

John McDermott

Puerto Rico

Gran Canaria

Spain