THE Southern Regional Fisheries Board has said it looks forward to "a constructive working relationship" with the commission appointed by the Minister of State for Marine, Mr Eamon Gil more, to take over the protection, conservation and management functions of the board.
In a statement following a meeting last night in Clonmel the board said it was confident" that any improvement in fisheries administration "which may result from the commission's work" would be of benefit, not only to it, but to all fisheries boards.
The statement said that in 1994 the board had referred "certain specific allegations" to the gardai and it understood that the Director of Public Prosecutions was about to reach a decision on Garda findings.
The board had also initiated its own inquiry into the allegations, but when it became apparent its resources were inadequate to complete it, it had sought the advice and assistance of the Central Fisheries Board. The board said it was concerned "to act always in a manner which was fair to our staff" and which made the best possible use of the board's resources.
The recent controversy should not obscure the board's positive achievements, it said. In 1995 "more illegal nets and illegally caught salmon were seized in the southern region than in any other region".
Furthermore, the vigilance of board pollution officers had resulted in "an ever diminishing number of significant fish kills throughout the region," while their expert input into the planning and development process had helped to ensure that fishery and associated environmental concerns were properly evaluated in major commercial and industrial developments. And an entirely new salmon hatchery for the River Suir was nearing completion.
