Conserving salmon stocks the only way

SEAMUS DE BURCA (Irish Examiner letters, March 13) incorrectly labelled the debate on drift nets as a political football, with all political parties abandoning the small coastal communities.

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.