Was the licence given by Foyle Fisheries?
321. Mr Thompson: The Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is the licensing authority. 322. Mr McLaughlin: Some things happen things happened during the recess. We were extremely shocked and surprised by this, since we thought we had dealt with it, only for it to happen suddenly. The original decision was appealed, and the chairman of the appeal board granted an extension to the licence to cover brook trout and Arctic char, neither of which are indigenous species in Northern Ireland. In our view they should under no circumstances be introduced. According to American magazines, brook trout grow to great size, and they are certainly going to compete if they escape, which they surely will. We have already seen escapes, and we know what will happen — it is only a matter of time. 323. Mr McLaughlin: There is one other item that affects our river indirectly. We are aware that right along this country’s coast people fish in the sea and the estuar
