The National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) which is the Irish umbrella body representing the interests of game bird shooters and gun clubs in Ireland, together with the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers (FISSTA) are holding a series of joint Public Meetings in key areas around the country. The first of these Public Meetings of members from both organisations took place last night Friday, 1 st March 2002 at 9 p.m. in St Mary's Parish Hall, Killarney, Co Kerry. The packed meeting heard presentations from both organisations on four main issues. The two Associations are seeking a commitment from any prospective candidate in the forthcoming General Election in relation to meeting the concerns of fishing and shooting people.

The four issues are:

a) The protection of sustainable sport angling and shooting rights for resident sportsmen and sportswomen. This means no evictions from traditional shooting lands or fishing waters by the state or any state agency under the guise of catchment management or any other scheme. Two clubs in Kerry have already been evicted and FISSTA seek a return of their leases for all clubs nationally.

b) The establishment of an independent non-judicial appeals procedure for firearms licensing. At present a firearms licence appeal can only be made to the courts, which means a cost to an individual of thousands of pounds. In practical terms, this cost level means that in many cases people are denied access to an appeals procedure.

c) An immediate buyout of drift netting off the Irish coast which now threatens the Atlantic wild salmon with extinction within a period as short as five years. Despite a promise by Minister Fahey to impose quotas, nothing has happened to date. Up to a half a million salmon could be slaughtered this season if the no action polciy continues. At present, Ireland is alone internationally in permitting this damaging practice and has come in for severe international criticism to buyout these nets now. Over 75% of the licensed netsmen are already prepared to sell on conservation grounds.

d) A state funding scheme dedicated to game conservation, research and education, for game fish or other game fauna, the administration of which both associations would have a major input into. At present, salmonid fishing and hunting interests are the only ones, which pay millions of pounds, each year in licence fees to the state, quite apart from other substantial revenue associated with their sporting activities, which in the case of N.A.R.G.C. amounts to in excess of IR£21 million per annum.

Noel Carr, Chairman of F.I.S.S.T.A. said ”I come from Donegal where evicitons by non renenwal of leases have been allowed to a take hold over the past three years. My message to the anglers of Kerry is clear, resist these evicitons on the Laune and Flesk or lose your angling forever to state landlords who will never be trusted. Despite the promise of quotas the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources has yet to introduce an order to save the wild atlantic salmon, before it is too late. Des Crofton, Director of N.A.R.G.C. added “The Wildlife Act states in it’s title that it is an act to secure the conservation of wildlife (including game). Yet, there is no dedicated system, procedure or funding for game, it’s development, research, education etc. Angling and shooting people are spending millions of pounds every year on their sport and on conservation but not a penny is being channelled back. This is no longer acceptable and the licensed sportsmen of this country need equal support for their genuine held concerns for their sport as the Government righly provides for in other codes."