The European Commission has requested Ireland to take further steps to ensure that, from next year onwards, its wild salmon fishery fully respects a key EU nature conservation law. The law in question is the EU s Habitats Directive which, amongst other things, protects the wild Atlantic salmon and the major freshwaters where it spawns. At present Ireland allows the use of drift nets at sea which catch high numbers of salmon bound for certain spawning rivers where salmon numbers are low. The Commission is asking Ireland to fully apply the Habitats Directive when authorising drift net fishery on an annual basis. At the same time, two other, unrelated, infringement cases against Ireland have been closed by the Commission following the provision of new information by the Irish authorities. These cases concern the protection of the ozone layer and waste management of end of life vehicles.
Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "The Commission and the Irish authorities fully agree that wild salmon is an important resource. Following constructive discussions with Ireland in 2005 and earlier this year, we are asking the authorities to take additional steps to protect salmon stocks in 2007 and beyond.
Wild salmon
The EU Habitats Directive[1] protects certain habitats and species, including the wild Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. The salmon spawns in freshwaters in Ireland, the United Kingdom and a number of other European countries before migrating to the North Atlantic to feed and develop. Every year, mature salmon make a return migration to their natal rivers and streams to spawn. On the return route along the Irish coast, drift-nets are used by fishermen in the summer. The drift net fishery, which is authorised on an annual basis, exploits a mix of salmon stocks bound for different river systems, including those where populations have fallen to low levels.
Under the Directive, the annual authorisation must be subject to a prior scientific assessment. Authorisation of the fishery is possible only where the assessment confirms that no negative effects will arise or where, alternatively, the conditions for an exception or derogation are met. The 2006 assessment showed negative effects, but drift-netting was nevertheless authorised by the Irish authorities.
The Commission considers it very important that compliance is achieved in 2007 and beyond. Following discussions with the Irish authorities, the Commission is encouraged by Ireland's commitment to bring decisions on the fishery into line with scientific advice from next year onwards.
However, the Commission is asking for further assurances that the relevant national implementing legislation will be applied in the authorisation process, and that any decisions on exploitation of salmon stocks will be fully consistent with the Habitats Directive's requirements. It has therefore sent Ireland a final written warning.