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Background
1.1 Since
their establishment in 1980 the Fisheries Boards have carried out
their responsibilities in freshwater and the sea angling resource
with great dedication and effectiveness, despite the lack of clear
State Policies, Departmental support, sustained funding shortages,
policy logjams at CFB level, insufficient resources and a failure
to implement the recommendations for modernisation at Regional
level.
1.2 The
weakness of the State policies in other areas of environmental
management and the harmonising of such policies has also militated
against the work of the Fisheries Boards.
1.3
Despite
these difficulties the Board, its management and staff have
achieved a great deal. Working with the community and stakeholders
in highlighting the declining fish habitat and were instrumental
in protecting, rehabilitating and developing the fisheries
resource, to world standards, where funds allowed. Members of the
Board have a wide range of relevant experience which they make
available at no cost, together with the time spent on Board
business. (Appendix 4)
1.4 The
role of the Regional Boards was recognised and further
strengthened under the 1999 Fisheries Act.
1.5 Fisheries
Boards are the one body with an overarching view of the water
environment and are not compromised as others with similar roles
are (e.g. Local Authorities, ESB, Bord na Mona, EPA, DOEHLG) whose
core role is not the water environment .
1.6 The
current review of the inland fisheries sector must be seen as an
opportunity to reinforce community and stakeholder involvement
while enhancing the States return on the inland fisheries
resource.
1.7 This
review is welcomed by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and
hopes it will clearly set out the State’s role and their funding
responsibilities, how the Department should support and monitor
the new structure, and the deliverables and structures for inland
fisheries.
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Why State involvement in
Inland Fisheries?
2.1
Ireland has an abundance of freshwater
and sea angling fisheries and the inland fisheries resource is a
valuable natural asset. It is incumbent upon the State to conserve
and protect our natural fisheries heritage for present and future
generations.
2.2
The resource is also of great economic
importance in generating wealth directly and in the transfer of
income from more affluent parts of the country to the less
developed areas. However, the resource must be used sustainably to
assist in the continued development of the Country’s economy. This
includes its usage for recreational and tourism purposes.
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State Policy
3.1 State
policy for inland fisheries at present is set out in the
Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources
Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 :
“to conserve ( and
rehabilitate )the inland fisheries resource in its
own right and its viability
and economic and social
contribution at national and
local level”
3.2 The
Shannon Board agrees that this shall continue to be the Core
Policy position of the State with the inclusion of rehabilitation
where the resource has been degraded. The Board has identified
three areas into which the State’s policy can be prioritised.
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“To conserve ( and
rehabilitate ) the inland fisheries resource in its own
right”
4.1 The
State under good governance has a duty to be aware of the inland
resource under its care and a duty to protect it from
degradation. Therefore it must monitor the resource and provide
protection to ensure that the resource does not deteriorate
further. Where deterioration has occurred it must be
rehabilitated. Its policies must be knowledge based. Under the
EU Water Framework Directive the State, over the next 15 years,
will have added responsibilities and obligations in this area
which must be met.
4.2 The
State must take sole responsibility for this element and provide
the necessary funding.
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“Social contribution at
national and local level”
5.1 Recreational
angling, other water recreation pursuits and sustainable
commercial fishing promote health and well-being and are
environmentally sound. This element delivers on the State’s policy
of healthy living while portraying an image of a green and healthy
environment which helps to attract industry.
5.2 To
deliver on this area the State must put structures in place to
ensure that there is input at every level, on a catchment basis,
by the community.
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“Its viability and
economic contribution at national and local level”
6.1 In
this element the State has a duty to maximise the value of State
assets for the good of the country.
6.2 As
the majority of fisheries in the country are owned by the State
(including ESB) or operated by voluntary angling organisations,
the State must seek ways in which these fisheries are developed to
a high standard, enhancing their socio–economic contribution,
while maintaining the tradition of access for all. In maximising
the value of the privately owned fisheries and sustainable
commercial fisheries the State must provide for the promotion and
incentives to develop these fisheries.
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The context within which
the States Policies will be implemented.
7.1 In
setting out a new structure within which the State’s policies on
inland fisheries will be implemented, account must be taken of the
national and international trends on the protection of the
environment and the requirement to be inclusive.
7.2 Agenda
21, emanating from the Earth Summit in 1992, of which Ireland is a
signatory, requires localised structures. These structures should
allow for local communities to have input into the sustainable
development of their areas.
7.3 The
EU also promotes regionalism as the way forward, giving meaningful
input by local communities into decision making. This can be seen
in the EU Water Framework Directive where the State has been given
targets which it must meet through a catchment management
approach.
7.4
The EU Environment Commissioner,
Margot Wallstrom stated,
“Real environmental progress
can be achieved with the participation of the citizens concerned.
Ensuring public consultation enhances public acceptance and
support for the decisions to be taken. This will enable more
informed and accountable decisions to be taken and greater
consensus.”
7.5 The
Convention on Biological Diversity calls for the protection of
habitats, including fisheries habitats and the preservation of our
biodiversity. This important issue was recognised in the 1999
Fisheries Act. The catchment management approach is seen as the
appropriate mechanism by which this issue can be dealt with.
7.6 “The
one size fits all” approach does not always work on environmental
issues at local level. Yes, we must have clear State national
policies, but with local administration, who would be best placed
to fine tune the State policies to local needs and bring forward
ideas for modifications or new policies. The inclusion of the
community locally will enable successful catchment planning and
implementation.
7.7 The
new inland fisheries management structure outlined below takes
into account modern philosophy on the need for community
involvement and the changed operating environment now facing
inland fisheries. The proposed structure will also support the
fisheries requirements under the WFD.
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New Inland Fisheries
Structure
8.1
Department of Communications, Marine and
Natural Resources
8.1.1 To
deliver on these policies an active and highly motivated unit
within the Department, who are fully aware of what is required
under the State policies, must be put in place. This unit would
also provide support for the new National and Regional structure
and monitor their effectiveness and value for money.
8.2
Inland Fisheries Policy Commission
8.2.1
The Inland Fisheries Policy
Commission will be tasked with the formulation and review of
inland fisheries policies for consideration by the Minister.
8.2.2
The Commission will incorporate the
role of the present salmon Commission.
8.2.3
A small secretariat to service the
Commission will be available and they shall meet quarterly.
8.2.4
The Commission will consist of
representatives of the Regional Fisheries structure, IFATS, DCMNR,
Tourism Ireland and respective groups from all segments of the
inland fisheries sectors.
8.3
Inland Fisheries Advisory and Training
Service
8.3.1
The function of the Inland Fisheries
Advisory and Training Service will be to provide Technical and
Training Services to the Regional Structures i.e. Human Resources,
Training, Biological, Chemical, Analytical, Engineering, GIS and
management information systems, etc.
8.3.2
This service will absorb the relevant
inland fisheries research and technical staff of the Central
Fisheries Board and Marine Institute.
8.3.3
This Body will be funded through the
Regional structure.
8.4
Regional Fisheries Authorities
(formally Regional Boards)
8.4.1
The role of the new Regional
Fisheries Authorities will be to implement the State’s policies on
inland fisheries at local catchment level in the areas of
conservation, management, improvement, development, the promotion
of fisheries and provide a one stop shop for all issues relating
to inland fisheries.
8.4.2
The Regional Fisheries Authorities
will be well placed to deliver their services through the catchment management process as set out in the 1999 Fisheries Act
and recommended by Price Waterhouse in 1996.
8.4.3
With clear State inland fisheries
policies set out, the Regional Fisheries Authorities will be able
to undertake its work in a focused and effective manner.
8.4.4
The further development of its staff
and management in line with the HR review 2001 (see Appendix 5)
and with support from the I.F.A.T.S., systems will be put in place
to ensure effective corporate/ management planning and deliver on
the State policies.
8.5
To conserve the inland fisheries
resource in its own right
8.5.1
To deliver on the first element of
the State’s Policy the Authority, as an independent overarching
fisheries body, would be well placed to provide value for money in
the assessment and monitoring of the fish resource together with
the conservation of fish and their habitat. This work will also
feed into Ireland’s requirements under the WFD.
8.5.2
The new Authority must continue to
monitor water quality as an independent agency – as recommended by
the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report 1997. The importance
of preserving the water quality in our rivers and streams through
the planning process must not be overlooked. This role is ideally
suited to an independent Fisheries Authority with staff on the
ground operating on 24/7 basis protecting our water environment.
8.5.3
It was anticipated that I.F.A.T.S
would supply the expert research requirements of the Authority,
however the recent events whereby research personnel of the CFB
are to be transferred to the Marine Institute calls this into
question. It is essential that the review considers mechanisms
which provide the new Authority with access to expert research
facilities and personnel on a structured basis to complement the
work of the Biologist and staff of the Authority.
8.5.4
It is the duty of the State to
provide funding for this element either through direct taxation or
indirect taxation.
8.6
Social contribution at national and
local level
8.6.1
The Fisheries Authority will in the
second element provide expert local fisheries advice and
promotion, acting as a facilitator for the betterment of fisheries
for local development groups, Angling Clubs etc.
8.6.2
This will be achieved through the
setting up of a system of grant-aid, which would recognise that it
is possible to undertake work locally in a more cost effective
manner.
8.6.3
The benefit of promoting
angling as a leisure pursuit to the nation has not been fully
recognised or addressed in previous reviews of inland fisheries.
It is an environmentally friendly sport and provides excellent
educational opportunities to youthful participants, good
environmental practices and the concept of sustainability in real
situations.
8.7
Its viability and economic contribution
at national and local level
8.7.1
The third element would see the
development of a fully professional service by which the Regional
Fisheries Authorities would provide fee based services to those in
the Private sector, those developing the Fisheries resource and
seek charges from those impacting on it, e.g. those who obtain
licenses to dispose of waste in water bodies and planning reviews
such as forestry development, etc.
8.7.2
The Regional Fisheries Authorities
would seek to develop angling tourism in association with Tourism
Ireland and local tourist and development groups.
8.7.3
The State owned assets would be sustainably developed commercially bearing in mind the traditional
access structure of angling in Ireland.
9.
Members of the
Authority
9.1
Members of the Authority would be
elected to represent its functions and other members nominated by
the Minister to represent interest groups, geographical spread
etc.
9.2
The Authorities would be answerable
directly to the Department in the area of Corporate Governance
and Finance and directed by the Minister.
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CFB -
Central Fisheries Board
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DCMNR -
Department of Communications, Marine and
Natural Resources
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DOEHLG -
Department of Environment, Heritage and Local
Government
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ESB -
Electricity Supply Board
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EPA -
Environmental Protection Agency
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EU -
European Union
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GIS -
Geographic Information System
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HR -
Human Resources
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IFATS -
Inland Fisheries Advisory and Training
Service
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IFPC - Inland
Fisheries Policy Commission
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RFA -
Regional Fisheries Authorities
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ShRFB -
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
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WFD -
Water Framework Directive
