Salmon season and Monday drift-netting
The Minister said he could not extend the season and would not permit Monday drift-netting, citing the poor state of salmon stocks and the need to protect spawning fish. Deasy disputed the Minister’s account of his position, saying he had advocated stopping illegal fishing.
andMr. Hegarty asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will extend the present salmon season to coincide with the closing dates of previous years, and if he will allow drift-netting on Mondays for the remainder of the season.
Comment on this
In regard to the first part of the question I am statutorily precluded from altering the length of the fishing season that has been settled for this year. As to the second part of the question, in view of the serious state of our salmon stocks I do not propose to revise the weekly close time as suggested.
Comment on this
Even if I could change them, I would not change them because I am acting on the advice given to me by Deputy Deasy, among others, to ensure that there would be proper regulations in respect of salmon fishing this year in order to allow for a greater escapement of salmon to spawning grounds upstream. This policy has been successful this year.