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Pressemitteilung des Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust (WSRT), 27. Dez. 2005

Protecting U K'S Salmon European Commission Act Against Irish Nets
Wessex Salmon And Rivers Trust

Registered Charity No: 1051068
www.wsrt.org.uk

PRESS RELEASE
IMMEDIATE

27th December 2005

IRISH MINISTER ORDERS STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH E U SALMON RULES

Irish Marine Ministry tells E U Commission; „Minister Gallagher fully accepts that more needs to be done to ensure the conservation of the wild salmon“.

The mixed stock salmon drift net industry, both licensed and illegal, that operates along Ireland’s western and southern coasts catches not only Irish salmon, but protected fish from rivers in England, Wales, France, Spain and Germany. These rivers are designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) by the European Habitats Directive with salmon as the primary reason for that highest level of EU protection. The rivers of Southern and South West England are the worst affected.

The Environment Agency reports that of the 14 English and Welsh SAC rivers only one has enough salmon spawning. In all of these rivers local interests have adopted extreme measures of conservation and protection to conserve their remaining stocks.
Long term efforts by both Irish, English and international N G O’s to persuade the Irish Government to close the fishery in the interests of their own economy and European conservation have failed.
In 2002 Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust, (WSRT) whose main focus is the most seriously affected River Hampshire Avon, lodged a formal complaint with the EU Environment Commission, against the Irish Government as the licensing authority for the nets. It cites four infringements of the Directive,
In 2004 eight Irish salmon river interests lodged similar complaints.

After examination by all of the twenty-five EU Commissioners the WSRT complaint was upheld and, in July 2005, a first warning of proceedings was issued to the Irish Government.

The Irish Government have responded to the EU warning.

• In their response they indicate that they now accept the view that the requirements of the Habitats Directive must be adhered to.
• It points out that the Marine Minister; Pat the Cope Gallagher, fully accepts that more needs to be done to ensure the conservation of wild salmon.
• The Minister has provided specific terms to the National Salmon Commission, (NSC) the statutory body that recommends salmon quotas, requiring that any practical recommendations made to the Minister must be considered in relation to obligations under European Union legislation.
• The Minister considers that these terms of reference will ensure that NSC advice for 2006 and beyond will take full account of the Habitats Directive.
• To avoid any doubt in this matter, the Minister intends writing to the Chairman of the NSC to ensure that it is aware of the need to have full regard to the requirements of the Habitats Directive. He will ask the Chairman to ensure that the specific requirements of the Directive are complied with by both the Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) and the NSC when compiling their advice for the Minister.

Brian Marshall, Chairman of Wessex Salmon said.

„There is strong joint English and Irish scientific evidence that proves these nets have a serious impact upon the recovery of our SAC salmon populations. Clearly their closure will make a significant addition to our returning spawning stocks. Whilst we welcome the apparent change of attitude from the Minister, we wait to see tangible evidence that Ireland at last recognises it’s international obligations“.

Editor’s notes:
A copy of the original complaint and other background material can be seen on http://www.wsrt.org.uk/news/irishnets.html

Contacts:

Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust.
Brian Marshall - Chairman.
Tel; +(0)1425 485105
Mobile: 07779 047 859
E mail: marshallb@onetel.net
Web site:www.wsrt.org.uk

Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers
Secretary: NOEL CARR,
Tel / Fax: 074 9730300
E mail: dgl1@indigo.ie

Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now
Niall Greene - Chair
00 353 86 (0)826 9222
E mail: info@stopnow.ie
Website: www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net

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