A chara, - Of course the North Western Regional Fisheries Board congratulates Denis Coughlan on his article "Leap now to turn the tide on wild salmon stocks" (The Irish Times, August 26th), as he adds to the campaign to end drift netting of salmon, and so to destroy the livelihood and way of life of the communities of this North Mayo coastal area.
It is possible that some licence-holders would be willing to surrender their licences in return for substantial compensation. What about the crew members, who do not have or need licences? Are they so unimportant that it is not even necessary to consider their plight in this context? Is it likely that they would relish this ending of the only livelihood that they have known, and the total dependence on State hand-outs that would inevitably follow?
The taxpayer is again being asked by the North Western Fisheries Board to fund a potential business advantage for major tourist interests on the wishful thinking that the end of the driftnetters is the signal for an angling bonanza, the raw material for this type of tourism. Surely the major tourist interests have already got enough from the purse of the long-tolerant taxpayer.
Drift-netters have no fight with anglers, marine or freshwater. But coastal people will not take kindly to the use of the might of the State and the public purse to euthanise a vibrant, independent people, whose members are proud to risk their lives to earn a better way of life for their families, and so help their community to survive. - Is mise,
Micheal O Seighin, Cathaoirleach, Comhar Dun Chaochain Teo., Ceathru Thaidhg, Beal an Atha, Co Mhaigh Eo.