Proposed salmon quotas alarm Greens

Levels of commercial salmon fishing proposed by the Minister of State for the Marine could "push salmon into extinction" on some Irish rivers, the Green Party has said.

On the recommendation of the National Salmon Commission, Pat "the Cope" Gallagher has proposed a commercial catch of wild salmon of 139,900 for 2005.

But the Green Party claims this is over 40,000 fish too many and will decimate stock bringing it below conservation levels.

Scientists advising the commission recommended a commercial fishing quota of 97,000, Eamon Ryan, Green Party marine spokesman, said.

"Allowing an extra 42,000 fish to be caught could well push salmon into extinction on some of our most important Irish rivers. Only 900 salmon came back to the Liffey last year, which is less than a fifth of the numbers needed for the river to be properly restocked."

Mr Ryan was speaking at the launch of his party's "Help save our Salmon" campaign in Dublin yesterday.

Thousands of postcards will be circulated nationally in the next two weeks calling on the Minister to reduce the quota.

The Green Party is asking people to send the cards to Mr Gallagher before the end of the consultation process on the 2005 quota on April 14th.

Mr Ryan said indiscriminate drift netting at sea was destroying spawning stock.

"What the scientists are telling us, and the Minister, is that if we continue to fish in this way we won't have fish in the future," said Mr Ryan.