Fitzgerald Motion "That this Árd Fheis calls for the phased reopening of the traditional salmon drift netting fisheries." passed by delegates at Árd Fheis
29th April 2013

DELEGATES at the Fianna Fáil Árd Fheis in Dublin at the weekend passed a motion calling for the phased re-opening of traditional salmon drift netting fisheries, which was tabled by Dingle man Breandán Fitzgerald. Speech below -

"Breandán Fitzgerald from the Dingle Cumann and I wish to move the motion by the Dingle Comhairle Ceantair -
"That this Ard Fheis calls for the phased reopening of the traditional salmon drift netting fisheries."

Cathaoirleach, Delegates, I come from a small fishing town in the south west of Ireland called Dingle. At the moment we're celebrating the birthday of Fungie the Dingle Dolphin. For over 30 years he's been guiding the Fisherman out the mouth of Dingle Harbour and heralding their safe return to Dingle shore.

To the West of us lies Ballydavid and if you travel over the Conor Pass you'll come to Brandon. Two more fishing towns so similar to all other fishing towns along the coast of Ireland from Cork to Donegal.

For a long time, no matter how bad things got in the country, the men of these communities were always able to see out the tough times by heading out to sea and casting their nets. They always had hope, because the Salmon would be coming and they'd Winter well.

This was their way of life. It was what their fathers did and their fathers before them. They were just carrying on this tradition of Salmon fishing.

In the year 2007 a Fianna Fáil led Government put a stop to this due to the danger to Salmon stocks. At the time, like many of my colleagues from fishing communities, I was urging the Minister not to make it compulsory. Give our Fishermen a choice! We were not listened to and an outright ban was introduced.

Delegates over 6 years have passed since the introduction of the ban. The world and Ireland have changed dramatically, as you all know, hope is in short supply. I ask you now Delegates to stand with us and give our fishing communities some hope again. Give our young men the chance their fathers had - to fish the wild Atlantic Salmon and have hope in the future that they too can Winter well.

Delegates the first step in this, must be a comprehensive review and audit of the impact of the ban on Salmon numbers! Has the ban worked? Are Salmon numbers increasing? If the answer to these questions is yes then the phased re-introduction of small scale fisheries for specific markets could be introduced with the Fishermen working with the conservationists to sustain the lifeblood of the seas.

If Salmon numbers have not increased then we must ask why haven't they? Then we must work with the Fishermen and conservationists to establish the causes and begin to remove them in order to protect our wild Atlantic Salmon and give our Fishermen hope for the future.

Delegates I call on our Spokespeople in the Oireachtas - John Browne TD, Senator Brian O Domhnaill and Senator Denis O Donovan and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher in the European Parliament to continue their efforts to get the Minister to review the ban as was promised by them in opposition.

I ask you once again Delegates to support our Fishermen and give our fishing communities hope again by supporting this motion.

Go raibh mile maith agaibh."