Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

We are truly disappointed to learn that the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Pat Rabbitte T.D., has announced that commercial fishing in part of Castlemaine Harbour will be permitted from the 5th to the 31st July 2011. 

This is despite major lobbying efforts by FISSTA, Countryside Alliance Ireland and other organisations urging the Minister to refrain from re-opening the first mixed stock fishery since their closure in 2007.  We believe that this decision represents a major slippage for Irish salmon conservation and may have severe repercussions far beyond our shores.

The operation and management of the fishery will be subject to the following controls:- 

·         Use only of the draft net technique as provided for in the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order ·         Provision for issue of 11 licences for fishing in the harbour

·         Provision for a Total Allowable Catch of 1,162 fish

·         Commitment of staffing by Inland Fisheries Ireland, from within existing resources, to ensure effective enforcement of the fishery

·         Restriction of commercial fishing to part of the harbour  

We have been informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland that decisions in relation to the operation of the commercial fishery in future years will continue to be guided by scientific and management advice and we have also received personal assurances from Inland Fisheries Ireland that they will ensure full enforcement of the associated salmon conservation bye-laws and regulations and also ensure adherence to the quota set for the commercial fishery in the harbour.