asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reason for the decline in the catch of salmon by netting in the Foyle area in recent years.

The decline in the catch of salmon by netting in the Foyle area in recent years is a direct result of reduced runs of fish into the system. The reason for this decline have not been clearly established but may be due to a number of factors such as the expansion of drift net fishing off the Donegal coast outside the Foyle area, the effects of salmon disease or some measure of overfishing within the Foyle area itself.