Conserving salmon stocks the only way
As a member of the National Salmon Commission, he is well aware that marine scientists have said we cannot manage our salmon stocks while drift netting continues. This is against a backdrop of 86% of our salmon-producing rivers in trouble, with 60% having less than half of their conservation limit.
It is this clear scientific advice which is forcing the Government to act to conserve salmon stocks.
Mr de Burca also claims his income has fallen in the face of savage cuts imposed on him. He neglects to say that he has never managed to catch these ‘cuts’ in any year since they were imposed and that the fall in his catch is directly linked to the fall in salmon stocks.
He suggests anglers are greedy, as they wouldn’t accept a catch-and-release programme in September. He neglects to mention that anglers reduced their allowable catch by 25% and donated their surplus to the commercial fishermen for the 2006 season.
Finally, Mr de Burca suggests the benefit of our wild salmon will transfer to a private cartel.
However, the State is by far the biggest owner of fishing rights on behalf of Irish people.
Mr de Burca would be better employed in dialogue for a fair compensation scheme and an alternative sustainable income than trying to maintain an industry which will soon wipe out wild salmon stocks.
Bob Wemyss
Jerpoint Hill
Thomastown
Co Kilkenny.
