I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together.
The draft Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations form part of Ireland’s salmon management framework which integrates scientific advice, policy decision making and regulatory implementation.
Independent scientific advice was received from the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) which assesses which rivers are likely to meet their conservation limits using probability thresholds. The TEGOS Report looked at 144 salmon rivers using a range of thresholds from 75% to 99% and sets out the status of each river at each threshold level. While the scientific advice provided by TEGOS sets out the various threshold options, it does not prescribe the threshold to be used as this is a policy decision.
A summary of the river-specific advice using the various probabilities is set out in Table 5 of the Report, with a more detailed assessment in Appendix IV. The status of a river can change depending on the threshold used. The threshold options for the Corrib are included on page 27 of the Report as shown below:
|
District
|
River
|
75%
|
80%
|
85%
|
90%
|
95%
|
99%
|
|
Galway
|
Corrib
|
Surplus
|
Surplus
|
C&R
|
C&R
|
C&R
|
Close
|
Section 69 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 obliges me to publish the draft regulations for consultation and also allows me to modify the draft regulations following consideration of submissions received.
The draft Regulations published last November used an 85% probability threshold as a starting point for consultation with stakeholders. The Department received a significant response to the consultation. All responses were considered, together with the scientific advice, and some modifications were made to the draft Regulations, including the use of a 75% probability threshold. 75% has been the core scientific standard used in Ireland since 2007 and maintaining this baseline ensures continuity, consistency and comparability with previous stock assessments and policy decisions.
The change in status of the Corrib reflects the change in probability threshold from 85% (Catch and Release) to 75% (Surplus).
The updated draft Regulations were published for a second consultation in early February. This second consultation provides stakeholders with another opportunity to review the measures being proposed and to share their views before I finalise the Regulations.
