merrion street

Mr. Sean Kyne T.D., Minister with responsibility for the inland fisheries sector, has approved a suite of regulations and bye-laws that will govern the wild salmon and sea trout fisheries in 2018. These will come into effect from Monday 1 January 2018.
Minister Kyne said “In all, 78 rivers will open for angling activity in 2018 and this will provide opportunities for all to share this important natural resource on a sustainable basis. 42 of these rivers will be fully open with a further 36 for angling on a “catch & release” basis. I had asked Inland Fisheries Ireland to carry out a full review of the Catch and Release element of fisheries management policy ahead of the 2018 season and this has resulted in an additional 12 rivers open on a Catch and Release basis which otherwise would have been closed.”
Minister Kyne had received management advice from IFI in relation to over 140 genetically individual wild salmon stocks in Ireland, in advance of setting out the legislation for 2018. This advice was also made available as part of a public consultation process. This was based on the scientific assessment of the current status of all stocks carried out by the independent Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon. This committee comprises scientists from a range of organisations.
Over 130 submissions were considered as part of the public consultation process. Based on this the Minister has introduced conservation measures for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery in 2018.

Management advise supported by scientific assessment of rivers/estuaries/harbours is that:-

· 78 Rovers should be open for angling of which
o 42 rivers should be open as a surplus of fish has been identified in these rivers;
o 36 rivers should be classified as open for “catch and release” angling;
· 68 rivers should be closed as they have no surplus of fish available for harvest.

Note for editors

Summary of main changes to the management of the wild salmon fishery in 2017

Fishery District River 2017 2018
Dundalk Glyde Open Catch And Release
Dundalk Dee Catch And Release Closed to 30 April/Catch And Release from 01 May
Wexford Slaney Closed Closed to 30 April/Catch And Release from 01 May
Kerry Ferta Open Catch And Release
Kerry Inny Open Catch And Release
Bangor Glenamoy CATCH AND RELEASE Open
Bangor Shramore Closed Catch And Release
Ballyshannon Eske Closed Catch And Release
Ballyshannon Owenwee (yellow) Closed Catch And Release
Letterkenny Owenea/Owentocker Open Catch And Release
Letterkenny Gweedore (Crolly) Open Catch And Release
Letterkenny Tullaghobegley Closed Catch And Release
Letterkenny Leannan Catch And Release Closed to 30 April/Catch And Release from 01 May

1. Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations S.I. No. 602 of 2017
These regulations provide for, the quotas of fish that can be harvested by commercial fishing engines and rod and line from those rivers identified in Schedule 2. The Regulations also provide for the use of brown tags in specified rivers which are identified in Schedule 4.
2. Angling Byelaw No. 955, 2017
This Bye-law prohibits the use of any fish hooks, other than single barbless hooks, and also prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for all species of fish in the waters specified in the Bye-law.

3. Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Bag Limits) Bye-law No. 956, 2017
Provides for an annual bag limit of 10 fish being either salmon or sea trout (over 40 cm) per angler and provides for a season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 January to 11 May, a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August and a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season. The Bye-law also provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified numbers of fish have been caught in the specified periods.

4. Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Catch and Release) Bye-law No. 957, 2017
Provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in rivers that are meeting at least 50% of their Conservation Limit as mentioned in the Bye-law. The Bye-law also provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for salmon and sea trout over 40 cm.

5. Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (River Suir) Bye-law No. 958, 2017.
This Bye-Law provides for catch and release in angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) in the River Suir (including the waters of the Rivers Clodiagh, Lingaun and Blackwater) and also prohibits the use of worms, prawn, shrimp or any other crustacean, or artificial forms thereof, as bait and any fish hooks other than single barbless hooks during the period 17 March to 30 Sept, 2018.

6. Conservation of Sea Trout Bye-law No. 959, 2017
This Bye-law provides for a daily bag limit of 3 sea trout (less than 40 cm in length) and provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of sea trout have been caught.

7. Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Closed Rivers) Bye-law No. C.S. 323, 2017
Prohibits the taking or attempting to take by rod and line salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the rivers specified in the Bye-law.