Politicians want mink bounty hunters to be offered new bounties worth nearly seven times the old rate in an attempt to get the rampant population under control.
Specialised mink hunters were paid €3 for every ‘tail’ that they produce to authorities.
But Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary, Jackie Cahill, wants this increased to €20 to help cull the out of control mink to stop the “untold damage” the animals are causing native wildlife.
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The Agriculture Committee chairperson warned that native species will be “decimated” if the overpopulation of mink is not addressed.
He has urged the Government to reintroduce a pilot scheme aimed at reducing mink numbers.
Mr Cahill said: “Mink is an invasive species that has no natural predator. It kills for fun and for sport.
“It is doing untold damage to other wildlife and fish life. In Lough Derg, for example, it is having an impact on tourism, as fish stocks are being seriously depleted by mink.
“It is the same for one species in particular, the waterhen. If you walk along any river now, you will not see a waterhen anywhere.
“They have been completely decimated by mink. Several years ago, a bounty was introduced for mink. It is known as the fur bounty or the tail bounty. It was introduced at €3 per fur tail delivered.
“That needs to be revisited. I suggest a figure of €20 should be paid.
“That should be done through clubs interested in conservation and protecting the wildlife and fish life in these areas…If we do not address the mink issue, it will absolutely decimate all forms of species in rural Ireland.
“Hares and young pheasants are suffering as well.
“The list is endless.”
He added: “We cannot let this predator continue to roam uncontrolled in rural areas and in the water.
“If it does, many species will become extinct.”
In response, Junior Agriculture Minister Malcolm Noonan committed to examining whether the pilot scheme, which ended in 2015, could be reintroduced.
Minister Noonan said: “I agree wholeheartedly on mink.
“They are causing utter destruction of wildlife.
“We looked at the costing of a total eradication, other countries have done it, it is very costly. “Despite the increased resources we have received for the NPWS, we would not have the financial or human resources to do that at this stage.
“Ultimately, the objective would be to remove them from the countryside.
“I will go back to the Department and see if there is any way to revisit that pilot scheme, as a pilot or on a wider scale, and look at what the bounty might be.
“I am not fully familiar with the scheme, because it was before my time.
“However, I will give a commitment that we will give consideration to the issue; see what the best way is to approach it and whether it could be revisited.”
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