Government Ban on Salmon Drift Net Fishing
welcomed by Irish Hotels Federation

1st November 2006

The Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today welcomed the Cabinet's decision to end salmon drift net fishing in light of advice from the Independent Expert Group. The IHF commended the decisiveness of today's announcement and stressed that it creates a foundation to rebuild the salmon angling tourism product to the levels enjoyed in the late 1990s. The IHF stated it is a strategic long term move which will contribute to a strong regional tourism product offering which would also see our salmon stocks being protected for future generations.

John Power, Chief Executive, IHF stated that the Government's decision to ban salmon drift net fishing is a very important development in terms of preserving Ireland's salmon stocks and rebuilding our regional tourism product which has been under some pressure in recent years.

“This announcement will provide tourism bodies with significant opportunities to market our regional and activity based tourism product. It is hoped that this will mark the return of overseas salmon anglers to our shores. This is a valuable market as on average each angler stays some 14 days in the country, and overall salmon angling tourism could potentially contribute some €100m to the Irish economy annually when it returns to the level of visitors it attracted in the late 1990s."

ENDS

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Siobhan Molloy/Eoin Quinn Tel: 01 6760168
Weber Shandwick FCC 086 817 50 66 / 087 2332191