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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment and Heritage Service has made of the viability of (a) a free-for-all approach to sea trout fishing and (b) the introduction of a permit system for sea trout fishing for Strangford Lough; and if he will make a statement. [202946] Angela Smith: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is responsible for inland fisheries matters, including sea trout in Northern Ireland. The other Departments referred to in the question have no responsibility for such matters. There has been no assessment of the viability of a free- for-all approach to sea trout fishing in Strangford Lough. Any person fishing in the Lough for sea trout requires an angling licence issued by the Fisheries Conservancy Board. The licence is required to ensure the regulation of fishing and preservation of good order among those fishing. An assessment of the viability of a permit system has been carried out, which indicates that: 1. Fishing in the sea is a public right and is free of charge. 2. There is no legislative provision to allow the issue of permits for sea trout angling in Strangford Lough. 3. The Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 would need to be amended to allow the introduction of a permit system. 4. Persons currently fishing for sea trout in the Lough could challenge the introduction of a permit system under the European Convention on Human Rights with regard to their right to the peaceful enjoyment of possessions and the deprivation of those possessions. 5. A precedent would be created which could impact on the public right to fish in other sea areas around the coast of Northern Ireland. The Department has no plans to amend the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 to introduce a permit system in Strangford Lough. There are ongoing discussions regarding the sea trout permit issue and the development of Strangford Lough as a sea trout fishery.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c2007W;431 c1999W; 202946

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Licensing Fish Northern Ireland Regulation Angling Strangford Lough

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk