191. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department has a strategy in place to promote the future of inland fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62846/26]

While the Department does not have a single standalone strategy specifically for the future of inland fisheries, there are a number of important strands of work underway that support the long-term protection, management and development of the sector.

Section 7 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 provides that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), as the statutory body for the protection, conservation and management of the inland fisheries resource, has functions in relation to the marketing, development and improvement of inland fisheries and the promotion and marketing of angling. IFI launched its Corporate Plan 2026-2030 in January 2026, which sets out its key strategic objectives for this five year period having regard to these statutory functions.

At Departmental level, work is progressing across a number of areas which will help inform the future direction of inland fisheries policy. This includes the recent review of Ireland’s salmon management framework and consideration of measures to strengthen the protection and recovery of salmon stocks.

In parallel, IFI is undertaking a socio-economic assessment of recreational angling, which will provide an evidence base for the economic and social contribution of angling and will inform the future development and promotion of the sector. This work is complemented by ongoing programmes on habitat protection and restoration, fish passage, fisheries management, enforcement and modernisation of inland fisheries legislation.

Taken together, these initiatives provide a broad framework for the sustainable development of Ireland’s inland fisheries.