31/12/2001 - FISSTA UNVEIL PROTEST CAMPAIGN AS MINISTER IGNORES IRISH ANGLERS
Anglers are noted for their patience, but there is a limit, as The Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources Mr Frank Fahey TD is now confronted with a new campaign of protest by angry anglers.
Last January 2001, Minster Fahey said (on Galway Bay FM) "The stocks of wild salmon have gone down very considerably and in fact they are now an endangered species .......we must implelment a reduction of the commercial fishing ..... the whole idea being to get more wild Atlantic salmon up the rivers to spawn". What has happened since?
Absolutely Nothing!
As the new season opens today the Minister has once again failed to respond to an urgent appeal, to the three very serious issues which Irish Anglers of our Fedration have sought action for in vain for far too long now.
They are:

1. The secure longterm tenure of clubs in Kerry, Mayo, and Donegal for their traditional waters owned by the state.
Since some of our affilliates received notices to quit over nine months ago FISSTA has campaigned on every level to have them withdrawn and a secure tenure put in place. While a reprive of the outright evictions may be granted at the eleventh hour, many clubs awaiting state leases are still on death row while the state boards treat voluntary clubs with contempt as they fail to renew traditional leases. The diplomatic pleas of FISSTA have been ignored by the Minister and it was unanimously concluded that the new campaign will commence on the Jan 1st 2002 deadline - the date when the new season opens and when our affiliated clubs will lose more waters to the state landlords.

2. The delay in introducing restricitons or a outright buyout of the commercial Salmon nets.

On 19th July 2001 in Galway, the Minister announced restrictions for anglers and promised commercial restrictions for netsmen were to be announced shortly. Mr Fahey said then, "I could annonce them tonight but I wish to clarify some minor points before I proceed". To date we have heard nothing from the Minister as he has failed convene a September meeting with FISSTA as agreed the previous February during the tagging negotiations. Two years have passed and we still do not have any positive response from the National Salmon Commission except delay after delay in which it appears everyone is losing confidence in the Dept of the Marine. The scientific committee have failed to respond positively as it appears political interference is allowed. There has been no progress and everyone interested in the restoration of salmon stocks is very worried. We will plan for more spectacular promotions as we seek action now.

Following an emergency meeting of the newly elected Executive Committee of FISSTA on Wed 12th December a new campaign was agreed to commence on January 1st 2002 which will include an action package to be promoted both Nationally and Internationally.

(i) All cooperation with Salmon Conservation measurers as applied by
Anglers during 2001 season, is now withdrawn.(This includes tagging, logbooks, etc)

(ii) No Tourist Anglers will be welcome to fish in any FISSTA water from Jan 1st 2002.

(iii) All affilliated members will be requested to withdraw from all State Boards, NSC, RFB, etc.

(iv) All National Angling bodies will be called on to support our campaign as this is a threat to all anglers rights.

The patience of FISSTA has now expired on these three issues and a new campaign of protest was sanctioned to become effective immediately unless Minister Fahey responds positively.
The full page advert in the Irish Times of Monday 10th December is a sample of the campaign that will be mounted if an immediate resolution is not forthcoming. The protest action will be extreme as all agree this is a fight for our very survival of angling and FISSTA will seek the support of all national angling bodies to support our campaign both nationally and internationally.

We call on Minster Fahey TD to act now as it is his ultimate responsibility to conserve, and protect the sport and angler who has always protected the salmon and avoid this unecessary confrontation in what is really an inter departmental dispute which presently victimises every club in the country.

To avoid outright confrontation we seek the granting of the following three solutions now:

(a) Eviction notices (some in effect since 1996) must be withdrawn by the state and security of tenure be returned to the Laune, Flesk, Donegal and Mayo Anglers immediatley.

(b) A public enquiry into the working of this particular CM group in the South Western Board, the Manager, his facilitator and Duchas.

(c) Commercial restricitons in the form of a buyout of nets - not compensation on fish numbers, be introduced for the coming season.

(d) The provision of a statutory scheme dedicated to conservation, research and education, for salmon and seatrout or other game, fauna, under the administration of FISSTA/NARGC.

(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 amounts to in excess of IR£30 million per annum.)