The introduction on Christmas Eve of a 73% increase in the rod license fee has enraged the Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers. The huge increase by Junior Minister John Browne, T.D. is due to take effect tomorrow Wednesday, Jan 1st 2003 when the season opens.

The Chairman of FISSTA, Noel Carr said that "This Christamas eve ambush of anglers is the greatest provocation yet and the Minister is forcing anglers to protest and fight for their rights. Legal advice to contest this increase is being sought and in the meantime all anglers are advised to refrain from purchasing a licence until clarification is received. In a year when this Government has broken every promise made on salmon stocks and angler rights, we now find that this new increase will yield a massive €840,000 from anglers who fish a particular species." Despite a decline in the angling product as stocks have plummeted due to mismanagement of the fishery resource by the Government, anglers are now expected to make up the 20% estimates cut which Minister Mc Creevy introduced last month.

These new charges are imposed by the Government for absolutely nothing in return, except more inefficiency. They are not caused by world prices or factors beyond the control of the Minister. Angling clubs have worked hard to hold on to our angling tourism market in the past but it is already down from 11% in 1990 to 2% and this is the way a Minister responds said Mr Carr.

There had been no consultation with anglers on the new measures and although the Minister claims it has the support and endorsement of the National Salmon Commission, the Minister knows that genuine club anglers continue to be disenfranchised as he has yet to appoint a FISSTA representative to this body.

The introduction of additional restrictions on anglers will also be opposed vehemently as Minister Fahey had promised FISSTA in writing that "there would be no quotas on anglers". Yet another broken promise. The time is long overdue for teh Minsiter to conserve stocks and end the killing of over 400,000 salmon every season by the commercial nets. FISSTA will fight these ludicrous restrictions until an agreed buyout of the commercial nets is operating satisfactory.