asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he has any proposals under consideration for the conservation of pike in selected areas and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Arising from a review of the coarse fishing bye-laws carried out by my Department in consultation with the central and regional fishery boards certain proposals for the conservation of pike are at present under consideration in the Department. I hope to be in a position to take a decision on these proposals in the near future.

Do the proposals relate to certain areas?

What we have in mind is to restrict the quantity of pike which visitors may take home with them.

The Minister is not proposing to move in on any particular locality or region?

There are no such proposals. The restriction on the catches is the main proposal.