Talks to be held on wild salmon study which suggests 'rebalancing' of commercial, angling sectors.
Wild salmon are worth more to the Irish economy in terms of angling and tourism than as a commercial catch, a new report argues.
Seven years after a ground-breaking State initiative on wild salmon management, the Government is to engage in a new round of consultations on the controversial sector.
The Minister of State, Mr John Browne, announced the move in Dublin yesterday when he received a copy of a consultancy study commissioned by the Central Fisheries Board.
The study by Indecon consultants found that wild salmon exploitation makes better economic/socio-economic sense if geared more towards tourism angling than commercial fishing.
The report represents the first economic evaluation of the wild salmon resource, according to Central Fisheries Board chief executive Mr John O'Connor.
It estimates the total direct income from commercial salmon fishing at €4.33 million based on 2002 figures, of which €3.64 million is generated by the driftnet sector, while the draft net and other commercial sectors are estimated at €0.59 million and €0.09 million respectively.
These revenue estimates do not include added value from "downstream" activities such as fish processing and smoking.
The value of the smoked salmon sector alone is put at approximately €10.6 million as of 2002.
The consultants estimate that salmon angling generates some €11 million annually, with €6.43 million generated by overseas visitors and €4.59 million by domestic salmon anglers.
The consultants do note that commercial salmon angling is concentrated in areas that generally lack an intensive industry base, where alternative employment is very limited.
They say the importance of commercial salmon fishing is likely to vary substantially within regions.
The consultants do not recommend the ending of commercial salmon fishing but believe the level of catch should be aligned with sustainable development. They say that a "rebalancing" between commercial and angling sectors should be achieved by one or more of the following incentives:
An appropriate reduction in commercial salmon catch should be implemented through a revision of commercial quotas and restriction of new entrants.
Set-aside schemes within the commercial sector at local level should receive continued support.
Commercial salmon fishing should be reduced through a voluntary buy-out programme.
Consideration should be given to a single stock approach to exploitation as a priority.
Appropriate river management structures should be put in place for tourist angling availability and access.
Development agencies should actively assist fishermen to secure opportunities in related sectors.
Both Mr Browne and Mr O'Connor welcomed the report. Mr O'Connor denied that the work of the National Salmon Task Force had effectively been discarded by the decision to hold new consultations on the findings.
The task force, set up during the term of the "rainbow" coalition in 1995, had forged a consensus approach with conflicting interests towards management of the resource, under the expert chairmanship of Prof Noel Wilkins of NUI, Galway.
Prof Wilkins was appointed to head a national salmon commission, recommended as part of the task force, but resigned when he felt he had been undermined by the then marine minister, Mr Frank Fahey.
The commission is currently chaired by Mr Joey Murrin, former chief executive of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation.