It is a matter of fundamental concern that Atlantic salmon stocks are in decline, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, declared yesterday.
Announcing a major new initiative in Limerick by the ESB Fisheries Conservation Unit to preserve and build up Atlantic salmon stocks on the Shannon, he said: "Over-fishing, poor survival at sea, and marine and fresh water habitat degradation are all contributing factors. A sustainable management programme must therefore adopt a multi-faceted approach.
"The precautionary principle dictates that we press ahead with existing conservation and critically assess the need for enhanced measures specially geared to reducing the current level of exploitation of Irish salmon", he added.
The Minister said an inclusive and consensus-based approach was the best way forward and a significant degree of consensus had been achieved by the Salmon Management Task Force.
Bringing about the required degree of change posed complex challenges for policy-makers, fishermen, managers and all those involved in the salmon resource. The ESB approach in the Shannon will build on the national salmon strategy which resulted in all the existing conservation measures being renewed for a 1998 season. The Minister is also moving towards the introduction of a tags and quotas scheme, and a National Salmon Management Commission is being established to oversee and advise on national salmon conservation management strategies backed up by expert scientific support.