Minister of State for the Marine John Browne may seek to quell coastal concerns about a ban on netting wild salmon at sea by establishing a review group to examine the issue.
However, Mr Browne stopped short of making any firm commitment to coastal representatives of the National Salmon Commission, the Government's advisory group, when he met a delegation in Dublin yesterday. The meeting took place after a march to the Dáil by about 500 commercial salmon netsmen and women. It is understood that a three-member review group, headed by an independent chairperson, may be set up to look at the implications of a driftnet ban and possible compensation for licence holders, which could cost about €70 million.
The six representatives of the Irish Salmon Traditional Netsmen's Association are dissenting members of the advisory committee, which has recommended a driftnet ban from the season's end.
In talks with Mr Browne, the group said that any advice to the Government should be reached by consensus. It had no difficulty with an end to "indiscriminate" exploitation of mixed stock salmon fisheries which were below conservation limits, but it favoured a voluntary buy-out over a compulsory ban.
The six - Carmel Lynn of Co Louth, John Doherty and John O'Brien of Donegal, Frank Flanagan of Galway, Michael Connors of Waterford and Séamus De Búrca of Cork - said a recent joint Oireachtas committee report had recommended a phased approach to reducing netting activity, and it had shown that about 60 per cent of driftnet fishermen would avail of such a scheme.
Mr Browne must sign draft regulations this week to allow for consultation before the salmon season.
The netsmen's association says any blanket ban would put enormous pressure on fragile inshore shellfish stocks such as crab and lobster which Bord Iascaigh Mhara has been involved in managing.
The Stop Driftnetting for Salmon Now campaign, representing private fishery owners and anglers, has supported compensation.