Proposal to lift net ban "delights" salmon anglers

COMMERCIAL salmon fishermen are "delighted" with the planned legalisation of monofilament net but are concerned about other elements in a report on the management of Ireland's wild salmon stocks.

Salmon anglers have welcomed the proposed restrictions in the Salmon Management Task Force Report but questioned whether they were sufficient to conserve stocks.

The first major review of wild salmon stocks since 1987 was launched yesterday by the Minister of State for the Marine, Mr Eamon Gilmore, with Cabinet approval.

A former secretary of the Department, Mr Fionan O Muircheartaigh, said several recommendations were similar to those of the previous review which he chaired nine years ago. Mr O Muircheartaigh, now chairman of the Salmon Research Agency in Mayo, said there seemed to be a "fairly balanced set of recommendations" but "people have to be aware of the fact that if stocks decline they will support fewer people in the commercial sector and poorer angling as well".

Among the main suggestions are legalising monofilament net, changing and shortening the salmon fishing season and imposing a six mile limit on coastal fishing of stock. The report also calls for the tagging of salmon at sale to eliminate poaching and illegal fishing, and a total allowable catch and quota system.

Mr Gilmore will implement the recommendations throughout 1997 and believes the Department can monitor the changes without major additional cost. He is organising a series of regional meetings, beginning next week, at which he will talk directly to the different interest groups.

The report is a balanced approach and one which recognises the rights of the different sectors, which puts the priority on the need to conserve and improve salmon stocks", the Minister said.

Mr Frank Arundel, chairman of the Carbery Fishermen's Association, the small boat operators in south west Cork, said he was "delighted" with the legalisation of monofilament which was long overdue. He supported a shorter but later salmon fishing season which would give the salmon "a free run up the river". Fishermen would have problems with a cut in fishing days from five to four a week and with reduced hours.

Mr Donal O'Driscoll, chairman of the Irish Fishermen's Federation, welcomed the legalisation of monofilament as "a step in the right direction" but he said there was great emphasis on controls of commercial fisherman but very little on pollution or the damage seals did to fisheries.

Mr Paddy Byrne of the National Angler Representative Association and a member of the task force, said the report was fair. Anglers might complain about legalising monofilament but it was a case of everybody having their share of the fishery.