TOURISM BODIES CALLS FOR PHASE OUT ON SALMON DRIFT NETTING

50% Drop in Angling Visitors – Action Needed to Re-establish Salmon Fishing

Ireland’s leading tourism bodies came together today to call on the Government to introduce a strategy to phase out salmon drift netting due to the immense damage it is causing Ireland’s angling tourism. The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation (ITIC), the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) and Euro-Toques, the European community of chefs, voiced concerns that commercial drift net salmon catching activities are eroding fish stocks and in turn impairing Ireland’s image as a premier angling destination. This has contributed to the number of salmon angling visitors to Ireland dropping by 50% in the last six years. The tourism bodies expressed disappointment that the Minister for the Marine whilst announcing major fishing reforms last week failed to address the salmon drift netting issue and called for the immediate development of a strategy to facilitate the ending of drift net fishing and thereby safeguard Ireland’s angling tourism offering.

According to John Power, Chief Executive of the Irish Hotels Federation the economic contribution per fish caught made by salmon angling tourism far exceeded that generated by the commercial fishing sector. The contribution to the economy of one wild salmon caught by an angling tourist is estimated to be €423 compared to €22 for one caught by drift netting. He stated that the industry is very concerned by the negative international press Ireland was receiving for permitting the practice of drift net fishing to continue here, a practice which is held responsible for harming salmon stocks of rivers not just in Ireland, but also in the UK and Europe.

“Angling tourism is a valuable tourism segment presently contributing €55million to the economy annually, but it has witnessed a halving in the number of salmon anglers visiting Ireland from overseas. The visitor numbers have dropped from 54,000 to 27,000 since 1999. Not only is it a crucial segment of the Irish holiday offering but it is a huge contributor to Ireland’s positive image of being environmentally friendly with lush green natural landscapes and clean rivers,” says John Power. “It is very disappointing that the Minister for the Marine, Pat the Cope Gallagher TD failed to address the issue of salmon drift net fishing as part of his major announcement last week on the decommissioning programme for Irish fishing vessels operating in the white fish fleet and the shellfish sector. We are suggesting that in the interests of Irish tourism that either this programme is extended or a new programme introduced to phase out wild salmon drift netting and to compensate the fishermen who rely on this source as an income.”

The importance of angling tourists, especially in rural areas, to the 16,000 tourism businesses employing 150,000 people in Ireland, was stressed by the IHF, ITIC, RAI and Euro-Toques.

According to Eamonn McKeon, Chief Executive, ITIC, the trend that the number of anglers coming here continues to drop and the fact that there is no sign of improvement is causing disquiet in the sector. Government action is now required to assist position Ireland as a premier angling destination internationally.

“The Government’s Tourism Policy Review Group which has set a challenge for Ireland to double overseas visitor spend to €6 billion before 2012 with an increase in visitor numbers from 6.5million to 10 million. These figures were not based on a decline in angling tourism. When you consider that in order to achieve these targets it would be necessary to double the number of overseas holiday visitors staying at least one night in the Border, Midland and Western regions and that angling tourism is vital to these areas, then it is clear something has to be done rapidly. The introduction of a programme to phase out drift netting has to be given the priority it deserves if we want to re-establish salmon fishing as a key attraction for holidaying in Ireland,” stated Eamonn McKeon.

The tourism bodies believe that the introduction of such a programme would send out strong positive signals to salmon anglers internationally and particularly those in Britain. It would be a major encouragement to their returning to fish in Irish rivers and lakes and a significant boost to tourism, particularly in the British market which has been notoriously difficult over recent years.

Henry O’Neill, Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland stated that it would also send a very positive and encouraging message to restaurants, hotels and guesthouses whose businesses are going through a difficult period due to the decline in tourism numbers.

“It should be noted that restrictions in fish kills by anglers is not a deterrent to their choosing to holiday here, as the practice of the vast majority of recreational fishers is to release the salmon back and kill only a minimum number of fish. The issue we have is that there is a perception abroad that we don’t have any stocks and that we have a Government which is seen to allow the mass killing of salmon,” concluded Mr O’Neill.

Martin Dwyer, Commissioner-General of chefs’ organisation Euro-Toques, expressed their support for putting a stop to salmon drift-netting, commenting “We must phase it out, as fairly as possible, otherwise our children may never know the taste of wild salmon. We have a responsibility to protect the biodiversity of our country; and wild salmon is a very characteristic, even legendary, part of this.”

ENDS

For information:

Siobhan Molloy / Niamh Boylan Tel: 01 6760168
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