Inland Fisheries

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

Questions (102)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

102. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if an approved NGO observer at NASCO (details supplied) furnished any scientific evidence or data to his officials in the inland fisheries division that validates the current policy requiring all rod-caught Atlantic salmon above 65cm to be released alive and that harvesting of Atlantic salmon in September should cease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26922/24]

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Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

No submission was made to my officials by an NGO at the recent meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) hosted by Ireland. Current policy does not require rod caught salmon over 65 cms to be released. Any rod caught salmon captured on a river designated as catch and release in the relevant annual angling legislation must be released regardless of size. The salmon angling season continues each year until the end of September.