November 2nd 2006

“IS&WFO disgusted by Cabinet Approval of ban on Salmon drift nets ”

The Irish South and West Fishermens Organisation, representing commercial Salmon fishermen in the South West, are extremely disappointed at the decision yesterday by Minister Noel Dempsey and the Cabinet to ban drift netting for Salmon. Mike Fitzpatrick, of the IS&WFO, said "Our members are disgusted by this short-sighted, unjustified and rushed decision. The Review Group Report came out last week and we were not even given an opportunity to meet with Minister Dempsey to discuss it or to discuss his decision yesterday. The livelihood of hundreds of fishermen around the Irish coast has been taken away at the stroke of a pen and is being transferred to the angling sector many of whom will benefit considerably in financial terms. However, the majority of drift-net fishermen, as a result of the evaluation method used, if they accept this compensation payment, will receive a pittance"

He added "We were pleased to hear a number of Politicians, most notably Denis O Donovan and John Perry express their outright disapproval of the decision at the Joint Oireachtais Committee meeting yesterday. However, many of the Politicians speaking in favour of the ban at that meeting conveniently argued that the fishermen wanted a business-as-usual approach to be taken. This is completely wrong as our Submission to the Review Group shows. We proposed a voluntary buyout in conjunction with rebuilding plans for rivers, increased fisheries restrictions and a detailed program of research to allow proper management of mixed stock fishing. We were prepared to accept a set-aside system or a moratorium on fishing for a number of years. Anything other than the outright permanent ban which we have got. No attempt has been made by the Minister to consider any alternative approach. We will be meeting shortly with the Irish Traditional Salmon Netsmens Association to consider our options and we are certainly not going to let this issue lie."