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Written question asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Monday, 5 June 2006.

Fishing: Salmon

Question
What were the total salmon catches within the European Union for the years 1961 to 1963; 1971 to 1973; 1981 to 1983; 1991 to 1993; and 2001 to 2003; what has been the percentage decline in total salmon catches over these periods; and what has been the Irish Republic’s drift netting share as a percentage of the total salmon catch in each of these periods.
Answer

The total nominal catches of Atlantic salmon (in tonnes round fresh weight, which is the weight of the fish before being gutted or frozen) for current EU member states are provided in the table below for the periods 1961 to 1963, 1971 to 1973, 1981 to 1983, 1991 to 1993 and 2001 to 2003. In comparison with the 1961 to 1963 period, catches were 26 per cent. higher in 1971 to 1973, but lower by 12 per cent, 56 per cent. and 64 per cent. in the successive three-year periods. The catch taken by drift nets in the Irish Republic represented 6.8 per cent. of the total ““EU”” catch in the period 1961 to 1963, increasing to 23.6 per cent, 27.5 per cent, 24.3 per cent. and 39.9 per cent. in the subsequent three-year periods.

Period ““EU”” nominal catch (t) % change on 1961-63 % Irish drift of ““EU”” total
1961-63 10,107 - 6.8
1971-73 12,738 +26 23.6
1981-83 8,857 -12 27.5
1991-93 4,493 -56 24.3
2001-03 3,683 -64 39.9

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
5157; 682 c148-9WA
Session
2005-06
Subjects
EU countries Fishing catches Republic of Ireland Drift nets Salmon
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk