Salmon river restocking and hatcheries
The Minister circulated the 1980 restocking figures, noting ova had been distributed and fingerling and smolt numbers were provisional. He hoped to open an Erne hatchery through cross-Border co-operation, but did not confirm any new hatcheries; the remaining questions were for written reply.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will outline the restocking programme for all salmon rivers for 1980.
Comment on this
As the reply is in the form of a tabular statement I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
The ova have already been distributed. The figures shown for fingerlings and smolts are provisional because these fish will not be distributed until appropriate times later in the year when they will have reached the required maturity and by which time the numbers will be reduced somewhat through normal mortality.
Comment on this
When a statement is circulated with the Official Report I want to discourage questioning on it as otherwise there would be no point in having it circulated.
Comment on this
I hope we might open one for the river Erne. That is a matter for cross-Border co-operation. There are details of nine particular hatcheries here.
Comment on this
I am not saying they are new. If the Deputy wants that information I will have it sent to him.