Special Areas of Conservation

Tuesday, 22 October 2024

Ceisteanna (139)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

139. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the concession on dead bait fishing was a sop to pike angling interests, whose quarry also pose a clear and present danger to salmon sustainability, when on 17 September 2024 he signed into law the Waterford Fisheries District, (River Barrow) Angling Limitations during Salmon Spawning Run Bye-Law No. 1011, 2024, to ban all forms of angling except the use of dead baits during the closed salmon season with the purpose of preventing anglers catching pre-spawning salmon in a SAC during their upstream migration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43163/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The purpose of Waterford Fisheries District, (River Barrow) angling limitation during salmon spawning run Bye-Law No. 1011, 2024 is to prevent anglers catching pre-spawned salmon stocks during their migration to spawning grounds through the River Barrow system or returning kelts - during the months of January, October, November and December each year. Over a period of time, such fish have become the target of increased illegal fishing activity along this stretch of the River Barrow. Given the declining status of salmon generally and in the River Barrow in particular, it was critical that I made and introduced this byelaw as a necessary conservation, protection and management measure.

This bye-law was introduced to afford an additional protection measure to salmon by prohibiting angling, other than angling with dead bait. It was deemed that dead baiting is unlikely to target accidental catching of salmon.

Question No. 140 answered with Question No. 126.