Salmon restrictions on way??
But Leisure Minister Gregory Campbell said he was not planning a ban on catching the king of fish – for the time being.
Numbers are dropping and the minister said conservation of the Atlantic salmon was a priority.
"I am tasking my officials and their scientific advisers in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute to come up with a suite of robust and effective measures which will make a significant contribution in the drive to conserve salmon in the Fisheries Conservancy Board area of Northern Ireland.
"I will consult on the new measures before implementing final changes to the way we fish for salmon, both in rivers and commercially in the sea around Northern Ireland.”
The Minister concluded: "I am not proposing a ban on commercial salmon fishing, or similarly severe restrictions on angling at this stage. Rather, my advisers will be bringing forward proposals for restrictions which it is envisaged will make a significant contribution to ensuring the future of our salmon.”
DCAL is committed to its responsibilities to conserve and protect salmon and continues to develop policy for salmon and inland fisheries in line with European legislation and the guidance issued by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation.
