I want to bring to the attention of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, my concern about the proposal by Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, to close the Cong salmon hatchery at Cong on Lough Corrib. I cannot get clarity as to whether a decision has been made, or is due or pending. This concern has been brought to me by angling groups, in particular, but also by groups that advocate for the conservation of salmon on the Corrib and by tourism stakeholders. Many of the anglers who have visited my constituency office recently have fished at the salmon weir in Galway for many years. Generations of Galwegians have fished at the weir for years. It is a tradition that has been passed from generation to generation. They have told me they are concerned about the future of what has been a traditional pursuit for many people. Galway and the Corrib have been famous for the quantity of salmon available to be fished by locals and tourists alike. The Minister of State will be familiar with the salmon weir in Galway; I think most people are. People have fished it for generations, but the concern now is that the stocks are at a low level. Anglers advise me that this has been a particularly bad year, unfortunately. The decision of IFI to close the hatchery at Cong will exacerbate this and will hasten the end of their pursuit. It is of great concern. There has been a notable decline in salmon stocks on Lough Corrib over the past 50 years. The causes of this decline, of course, are complex. It is difficult to pin it on one particular issue. The decision to close the hatchery is not something that will ameliorate this; in fact, it will make it worse. I understand that the Cong hatchery is the only IFI facility that produces salmon smolts. In 2016, IFI decided that not only was it not going to close the hatchery at Cong but also that it saw it as something that would be an upgraded facility for research. That is part of the issue here because, disappointingly, IFI is now alleging that it is no longer required as a research facility, while also ignoring its use for social activities and the tourism industry. The hatchery helps to ensure there is an adequate level of salmon in the Corrib for locals and tourists alike. The decision to close the hatchery will undoubtedly make things worse. It will undoubtedly reduce the numbers. There is no evidence whatsoever to say that closing the hatchery will enhance the Corrib salmon. I ask the Minister of State to engage with IFI on the issue, to prevent the closure of the hatchery, and to plead for the local anglers and others who come to Galway to enjoy the Corrib for fishing pursuits.

Sentiment score: -0.07

I thank the Minister of State for his response. There is an independence to the board of Inland Fisheries Ireland. I recognise that the Minister of State is being prudent in not interfering in its decision-making processes. I do not have the scientific background required to challenge some of the content of the response. Nevertheless, there are a number of things I note. This hatchery has been in place since before 2016, and possibly before that. I am not sure of the foundation date. It is not recently that the Corrib has become a special area of conservation. It has been one for some time. I imagine that consideration was previously given to whether this would have an impact on that SAC and whether the activities of the hatchery would have been a negative in terms of the conservation of the salmon population in Lough Corrib. However, I am not sure about that. I have been made aware by people who frequent the Corrib that Cong hatchery brood stocks are indigenous Corrib salmon. This suggests that the evidence IFI is putting forward regarding the risk to wild stocks is limited. I am not sure whether it stands up. I am not sure there is interbreeding with different species of wild salmon. The hatchery produces indigenous Corrib salmon. Correspondence from IFI states that the stock levels meet its objectives, but that is not the sentiment among anglers. They have been angling on the Corrib for generations. Stocks are declining. The hatchery was one conservation measure that maintained the stock. It seems this decision was made by IFI without consultation with local anglers. Those anglers take great pride in their pursuit and in the natural facility of the Corrib. They would not do anything to harm the stock of salmon or the natural environment of the Corrib. I ask that IFI engage with local anglers on the issue.

Sentiment score: -0.01