The conservation measures adopted by the National Salmon Commission represent a cautious start to what is likely to become a long-drawn-out process.
The moderate nature of the proposals may have been necessary in order to attract grudging support from the competing interests involved, be they commercial netsmen or rod angling interests. Whatever the reasons for the tentative approach, it is now up to the Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, to introduce and to enforce regulations.
Ireland is the only European country that still permits commercial fishing for salmon and, under these proposals, driftnet and draftnet fishing will continue. Quotas will, however, be imposed in some fishery districts where the species is under particular threat. A reduction of 15 per cent in catches will be introduced in the Waterford, Galway, Bangor and Letterkenny districts this year. This will fall to 10 per cent in Ballyshannon, Lismore and Ballina and to 5 per cent in the Sligo and Shannon districts. The remaining districts, like Connemara and Kerry/Cork, will be limited to a catch average of the past five years.
Positive discrimination in favour of Connemara and other western netsmen was justified on the basis of "socio-economic factors". But the Minister, who represents Connemara, said the intention was "to move to scientifically derived conservation limits on a progressive basis over the next five years." A tagging and logbook system was introduced last year for both commercial netsmen and rod anglers in an attempt to measure remaining salmon stocks, to prevent poaching and to identify those rivers where salmon stocks were under greatest threat. Unfortunately, many anglers refused to co-operate, while commercial fishermen were largely compliant. If the new measures - unanimously endorsed by the various interests on the National Salmon Commission - are to work, then anglers and netsmen must live up to their responsibilities and reduce their catches.
The chairman of the National Salmon Commission, Mr Joey Murren, described the agreed proposals as "radical" and hoped Mr Fahey would hold his nerve and implement them. Atlantic salmon are a considerable tourist attraction. Protecting them is a responsibility we owe to society and to our children.