What is the Welsh Government doing to ensure netsmen are able to secure their fishing licences and fish tags in a timely manner?
I confirmed the changes to net duties as advertised by Natural Resources Wales on the 18th April in accordance with the requirements of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 having considered the outstanding objections.
This was communicated to NRW on the 19th April. NRW had kept fishers updated throughout the determination process and notified the netsmen, by post and email of my decision on the 19th April.
NRW have put in place measures to ensure any fishers who pay the duties before close of business on 26 April will receive their license and tags ahead of the start of the season on the 1st May.
As of 24th April, 10 of the 22 netsmen who had been allocated licenses had paid the duties.