03/09/2001 - Minister Fahey must enforce driftnet restrictions now.

A delegation from FISSTA will meet the Minister Frank Fahey TD in the coming weeks, to review the serious issues arising out of the first season of the tagging wild atlantic salmon.

The issues have changed rapidly over the summer from Conservation of not just salmon and seatrout, but anglers, their clubs, and their waters now top the agenda as FISSTA anger mounts at the developments of regional boards to evict clubs off their longheld waters. FISSTA see these actions in Kerry designed to have the same effect as first tried by the Northern Regional Fishery Board in 1996 when they succeeded in getting the waters of four clubs under catchment improvement plans. FISSTA update him on a number of pitfalls which FISSTA hope can be avoided in the coming months.

The Chairman Noel Carr confirmed that arising from their last meeting with the Minister in Galway in July, the Chairman of the National Salmon Commission Joey Murrin was asked to investigate the CM situation and report back to Minister Fahey as soon as possible. "Things are now at a very alarming stages among anglers as we are hearing of 10 year quota agreements being made between netsmen and CM comittee in this region for salmon that will probably be long netted out by then."

FISSTA agreed a short timeframe to enable Mr Murrin give his response through the National Salmon Commission before they decide on what protest action to take.

The Minister at the next FISSTA meeting will be asked to confirm all points as follows:

FISSTA hoped Catchment Management would have been about partnership with all stakeholders on the river. But sadly it is being used once again by vested interests to take waters from our affiliated clubs with eviction notices already been issued in Kerry. This has already happened in Donegal where TAM money was used to take fisheries from local clubs by not renewing their leases. The issue of Catchment Management (CM) is becoming more serious as the days draw closer to eviction day for clubs on the Kerry rivers. How can this be tolerated? The CFB fail to use their CM meetings to inform anglers on CM events especially before any criteria or model is agreed. Either way the CM initiative is being opposed vehemently by FISSTA now, and unless security of tenure is agreed between club and owner then a collision is on course by Jan 1 2002 when evictions of anglers from fisheries will erupt the 90 affiliated clubs to take action to reverse this ludicrous decision. As all other channels have proved a waste of time our executive seek a meeting with you to resolve this issue before it gathers any further momentum.
That the Federation agreed to tag on the conditions that our 5 concerns as outlined in his letter of agreeement are honoured, with special emphasis on the ban on sale of rodcaught fish and the enforcement of the fishery laws. The relationship between angler and rfb/domnr is one of mistrust and suspicion due to the presentation of the many ‘fait accompli’ without prior consultation with anglers. This should be avoided in future as our time would be better spent developing angling than mounting counter campaigns. One of the key elements of acceptance by our members was of course the ban on the sale issue which came into effect on Aug 1 2001. This was vital if we were to ensure poaching under rodtags is prevented. Our fears are many as we are presently hearing reports of blatant poaching without much action from the RFB Protection Service.
FISSTA hope that plans to tag all farmed fish for sale in Ireland will take place at the point of harvest under the new quality assurance programme being undertaken by the various farms and like the logbook issues we will await the upcoming review to raise the level of abuse then. Our National Salmon Commission representative Martin Mc Enroe will have reviewed the Protection Service report as agreed, before our critical comments on the Service for this season are made. A great deal of information which comprises of this report will have been observed by our members on coastal observation or as reported in the press this season.
The Minister must decide commercial restrictions on drifnets now before it is too late. The Faeroese netsmen are threatenig to resume fishing if the Irish driftnetmen fail to show restraint now. Too much time and fish have been lost and it is incumbent on the Minister to implement a buyout now. The Minister will be told once again that FISSTA still hold the view that North Atlantic Salmon Fund’s way is by far the best proposal for Ireland where driftnetting still slaughters nearly 300,000 salmon annually. The Minister will be asked to "Decide now that this season will be the last where this futile practise will be tolerated."

Noel Carr
Chairman
Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers Visit us at www.fissta.com
Teelin Rd
Carrick Co Donegal