The full-page advertisement in The Irish Times (December 10th) in relation to conserving wild salmon said it all. Clear and precise, it spelt out in simplistic terms why the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, needs to act, and act fast, to save this majestic species from eventual extinction.
Today, 1,500 licensed drift-net fishermen on the west coast of Ireland account for some 200,000 salmon - about 70 per cent of the recorded catch. In monetary terms this translates to less than £2 million. If, however, these fish were allowed to return to their native rivers unhindered, the net gain to the economy would surge to £80 million.
If the netting ceased, Bord Fβilte's distinction between a net-caught salmon yielding £10 against £400 for a rod-caught fish would become a reality in today's terms.
Further benefits would see the majority of salmon reaching the spawning grounds including those caught and released by anglers thus allowing the evolution cycle to continue.
While countries close to the feeding grounds such as Norway, Iceland, the Faroes and Greenland have ceased drift-netting around their respective coasts, the Irish Government stance defies logic and continues to allow this senseless slaughter.
Make no mistake, stock are dwindling fast. Today's catch is less than a third from that of 30 years ago.
In a further twist to the saga, a recent international conference on salmon conservation held in Santander, in northern Spain, was told Irish netsmen were intercepting wild salmon returning to other countries and wrecking attempts to restore native stock levels in France, Germany, Spain and England. Ironically, the netsmen are acutely aware of the situation. They see the damage they are inflicting on wild stocks. They feel the fall-off in earnings because prices for wild salmon have been dragged down with the onset of salmon farms.
But, like the rest of us, they have to live! So what needs to be done?
Firstly, the Minister needs to sit down with the netsmen and explain why their present working conditions are out-of-date and futile in the long term.
He needs to offer alternative ways of making a living on land-based employment. He need to offer early retirement schemes, and, most importantly, he needs to offer an attractive financial compensation package.
Enter the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF). Under the chairmanship of Mr Orri Vigfusson, NASF has submitted a comprehensive set of proposals to the Minister. In short, these proposals cover financial contributions, conservation and voluntary agreements.
NASF will also share the costs of a buyout with the Minister.
Northern Ireland set the pace last April when finance minister Mr Mark Durkan informed NASF (Northern Ireland) that £1.5 million had been allocated towards the closure of commercial salmon fisheries.
So, it is quite clear. The ball is firmly in Mr Fahey's court. If we are to have a future for our wild salmon, restore our rivers, revitalise our angling tourism and create more prosperity, the Minister must lead the way and fall in line with our European counterparts.
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Fax: 679 1881. Email: angling@irish-times.ie
