Will the Minister confirm whether Natural Resources Wales has given licenced commercial salmon netsmen permission to start netting as of 1 June in contravention of the coronavirus regulations?
Answered by Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs | Answered on 15/05/2020
Natural Resources Wales has an obligation under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 to issue net licences to catch salmon and sea trout. At present, in response to dwindling salmon stocks, all net fishers must release any salmon they catch. In common with other commercial fishers, should these net fishers choose to fish commercially, they must comply with current Covid-19 restrictions.
I have asked NRW to remind licensed net fishers of their obligation to comply with current Covid-19 restrictions when fishing.