Salmon worth more on a rod than in a net
Does Minister Ahern not realise the net loss to the economy of allowing this situation to continue. Of those 200,000 salmon taken at sea at an average of €25-€30 per salmon. The net fishermen in Ireland gain approximately €5m to €6m per annum.
However, with the economic value of a salmon alive in our rivers estimated to be in the region of €1,000 to €1,300 per fish, the opportunity being lost is actually in the region of €255,000,000. Serious money is at stake here and I believe that the minister for marine should reconsider this new directive to introduce catch-and-release.
Pressure needs to be brought on Minister Dermot Ahern to take action to stop the slaughter of salmon off our coasts, and not against a bunch of chancer anglers trying their luck at a fish or two. It’s not rocket science, minister, you can do the maths too.
Trying to encourage a couple of anglers with fly boxes and waders to release a salmon or two is not going to help the probable extinction of the wild Irish salmon.
This will become an election issue and I will personally bring it up with every TD I meet between now and the election. It’s high time this issue gets thrashed out in public and that everybody sees what’s really happening.
John Kenneally
Brackenwood
Model Farm Road
Co Cork.
