The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources has agreed to a compromise on new inland fisheries legislation, following strong representations from angling groups this week.
The Fine Gael marine spokesman, Mr Michael Finucane, has welcomed what he has described as the "Minister's U-turn" on the legislation, which was due for its second reading yesterday.
The Minister, Dr Woods, confirmed in a statement yesterday that he had made key concessions after he had met representatives of the Trout Anglers' Federation of Ireland and the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers in Dublin on Wednesday.
Among the agreed areas for change in the Fisheries Amendment Bill is the controversial salmon tagging measure to which anglers object, but which driftnetters accepted as a necessary conservation and management initiative. The Minister said there would be "collective agreement on clarification in the Bill of the process of further consultation on salmon tags and quotas before introduction."
Dr Woods promised to maintain "at present levels" the representation for salmon, trout and coarse anglers and life members of the Inland Fisheries Trust on regional fisheries boards and said "commercial salmon representation" would be reviewed. He said the chairpersons of boards would be elected, as hitherto, by all board members.
