UUP Representatives welcome Irish Governments long-overdue move to end Salmon Drift Netting
Ulster Unionists have welcomed the announcement by the Irish government that it will adopt key recommendations of the Independent Working Group on Salmon and back a compulsory buyout of drift netting licences.
UUP South Antrim MLA Jim Wilson said: “Ulster Unionists have taken this issue very seriously. Through MEP Jim Nicholson, Lord Maginnis and our local government representatives, we have lobbied long and hard on this issue in Ireland, and in the UK and European Parliaments.
“Drift net practices have been preventing salmon from reaching upstream spawning grounds – the result has been a significant reduction in both North Atlantic and inland river populations.
“This practice had the capacity to beach around half a million salmon every year. That cannot but have devastating effects on local tourism, conservation and the rural economy.
“It is vital for local fisheries that drift netting of salmon is ended completely and upriver salmon populations are allowed to thrive once more.”
He added: “The hardship fund which the Irish government has introduced for netsmen is a welcome and responsible measure.
“With fund resources targeted toward rural regeneration, I trust that local economies can diversify and that the end of drift netting is managed sensitively.
“Alongside partnership organizations, such as the North Atlantic Salmon Fund, Ulster Unionists have been campaigning hard on this issue across all levels of government. We will be monitoring the situation to ensure that proper enforcement measures are taken and that the goals of the buyout scheme are achieved.
“I trust that this long-overdue decision by the Irish government will now see salmon stocks quickly replenished.”