February 28, 2006 - An historic Day ?

The National Salmon Commission agreed yesterday to recommend to the Minister for the Marine
that mixed stock fishing for salmon (ie all drift netting and some draft netting)
should cease at the end of the 2006 season. 

The Commission has also recommended to the Minister that there should be
a system of compensation introduced for those leaving the sector. 

In addition, there will be some additional limitations on anglers
– a reduction from 20 to 15 in the number of tags available to anglers annually
and a limitation of one fish per angler per day in September.

The cessation of drift netting from the end of 2006 is in line with
the advice of the Standing Scientific Committee of the Commission
and of the National Fishery Management Executive,
whose advice the Minister has always followed in the past.

On a precautionary note, it must be said that this is not necessarily the end of drift netting. 
The Minister still has to make his decision on the advice he is being given by the Commission
and effectively he has until the end of March to do so. 
Legally he need only make decisions about the salmon fishing regime for 2006
and could avoid any decisions on the 2007 issue. 

Keep an eye on the Stop Now website for all the latest information