Brussels, 22/08/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has requested Ireland to take further steps to ensure that its wild salmon fishery fully respects a key EU nature conservation law. The law in question is the EU's Habitats Directive which protects the wild Atlantic salmon. At present Ireland allows the use of drift nets at sea which catch high numbers of salmon bound for certain spawning rivers where salmon numbers are low. The Commission is calling on Ireland to carry out meticulous assessments when it grants annual authorisation for drift net fishing so that it achieves compliance by 2007. it is pleased to note that Ireland is committed to getting its decisions to comply with scientific recommendations but is asking it for additional guarantees.
Two other infringements concerning this directive has been initiated: Protection of the ozone layer. Ireland had not communicated reports on implementation of some Community provisions on substances that damaged the ozone lay and had not done what was needed for people handling these substances or adequate training despite a Court of Justice ruling in October 2004; End of life vehicles. Ireland was condemned for failing to adopt and transmit legislation to give effect to the End of life vehicles directive, which aims to reduce waste arising from vehicles that are no longer in use.