Salmon catch figures
The Minister said 1979 catch figures would not be available until after the season; 360,389 salmon were caught in 1978. He promised the Deputy a full comparison when figures became available, noting greater escapement to spawning grounds this year.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry the estimated number of salmon caught this year; and the figures for the comparative period last year.
Comment on this
Statistics in relation to salmon catch for 1979 will not be available until after the close of the fishing season. I will have the information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
The total number of salmon caught during the 1978 season was 360,389.
Comment on this
Now that we are approaching the end of the salmon season surely the Minister has some indication of how well or how badly the industry has been faring this year compared with last year.
Comment on this
The main indication I have is that there is a larger escapement of fish up to the spawning grounds by reason of the measures we have adopted to control salmon fishing. I shall have more definitive figures on that very shortly. In view of the Deputy's interest I shall appraise him of the full picture as soon as all the facts and figures are available and that should be within the next month.
8.