merrion street

Mr Fergus O’Dowd T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, has approved a suite of regulations and bye-laws that will govern the wild salmon fishery in 2012. These will come into effect from Sunday 1 January 2012.

On receipt of management and scientific advice on the current status of Irish salmon stocks from Inland Fisheries Ireland and having considered submissions received through the public consultation exercise, the Minister of State introduced conservation measures for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery in 2012.

Having signed the regulations and bye-laws the Minister remarked:

In all, the Standing Scientific Committee assessed 141 rivers and have advised that:-

·         49 rivers are open as a surplus of fish has been identified in these rivers (i.e. 1 less than in 2011);

·         32 rivers have been classified as open for angling on a “catch and release” basis only (i.e. 3 more than 2011); and

·         60 rivers are closed as they have no surplus of fish available for harvest in them (i.e. 2 less than 2011).

The Minister also announced a number of amendments to the cost of licence fees in 2012, including a reduction in ordinary licences, district licences, twenty-one day licences, juvenile licences and special local licences on the recommendation of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

said Minister O’Dowd.

The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations for 2012 are in essence unchanged from the Regulations which were introduced for  2011. A number of minor amendments to the Regulations, recommended by Inland Fisheries Ireland, will provide for more effective administration of the tagging scheme regulations in 2012.

Ø      Slaney (Wexford fishery district) (note: river is closed until 17 March 2012 )

Ø      Corock (Waterford fishery district)

Ø      Srahmore (Burrishoole) (Bangor fishery district)

Ø      Bungosteen (Ballyshannon fishery district)

Ø      Dee (Dundalk fishery district).

Argideen (Cork fishery district)

Castletown (Dundalk fishery district).

Grange (Sligo fishery district)

Glenna and Glenagannon (Letterkenny fishery district).

17 Statutory instruments/Bye-Laws give effect to the decisions made by the Minister of State for management of the salmon fishery in 2012:

provide for, among other things, the total allowable catch of fish that can be harvested by commercial fishing engines and rod and line from identified rivers.

provide for a system of on-the-spot fines to be administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland as applies to fisheries legislation.

prescribe the licence fees payable from 1 January 2012. 

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 number of fish have been caught in the specified periods. 

provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in rivers that are meeting at least 65% 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.

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.

prohibits the use of any fish hooks, other than single barbless hooks, and the use of worms prawn or shrimp as bait in angling for all species of fish in the rivers specified in the Bye-law.

The following bye-laws make provisions in relation to specific rivers:

provides for catch and release in angling for salmon and sea trout (over 40cm) in the River Suir (including the waters of the Rivers Clodiagh, Lingaun and Blackwater) during the period 17 March to 111 May, 2012 and

a bag limit of 3 fish during the period 12 May to 30 September subject to a daily bag limit of 1 fish during this period.  The Bye-law also prohibits the use of worms as bait and any fish hooks other than single barbless hooks in angling for salmon and sea trout (over 40cm) in those waters.

renews the measures in place since 2009 and provides for catch and release in respect of sea trout under 40cm in Avoca System.  The Bye-law also prohibits the use of worms as bait and any fish hooks other than single barbless hooks in angling for sea trout under 40cm.

provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the River Bandon during the period 15 February, 2012 to 11 May, 2012.  From 12 May onwards anglers are permitted to take fish up to the limits specified in the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No. 885 (Bag limit).

provides for catch and release in respect of Salmon and Sea Trout (over 40 cm) in the Newport River including the waters of Lough Beltra and the Crumpaun River, Co Mayo during the period 20 March to 11 May, 2012.  From 12 May onwards anglers are permitted to take fish up to the limits specified in the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No. 885 (Bag limit).

extends the annual close season for angling for salmon and sea trout in the River Slaney and its tributaries in the year 2012 from 26 February, to 16 March and provides for catch and release during the period 17 March to 30 September. The Byelaw also provides for the use of artificial fly with single barbless hook upstream from the old Bridge Enniscorthy and provides for single barbless hook and a ban on worms, prawn or shrimp as bait downstream from the old Bridge Enniscorthy.

provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the portion of the Lower Shannon from O’Brien’s Bridge downstream, on the downstream face of the bridge, to Thomond Bridge, Limerick City during the period 1 March to 30 September 2012. The Bye-law also prohibits the use of worms as bait and any fish hooks other than barbless hooks in angling for salmon and trout in those waters.

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.

extends the angling season in the year 2012 from 1 October to 12 October i.e. the close season for angling for salmon and sea trout in the River Blackwater (Munster) including Glenshelane and Finisk commences in the year 2012 on 13 October and ends on 31 January in the next following year both dates inclusive.  The Byelaw also provides for catch and release during the period from 1 October to 12 October and prohibits the use of any lure other than artificial fly in angling for salmon and sea trout in those waters during that period.

prohibits angling for all species of fish in the River Tor and its tributaries.

The scientists have provided advice in respect of each river indicating the status of stocks. IFI, based on the scientific advice, has recommended the management approach to be adopted in each river. In summary the position for 2012 compared to the previous 5 years is as follows:

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The Waterford Blackwater was reclassified by the SSC in 2007 as a tributary of the Suir thus reducing the total number of salmon rivers to 141.

The number of rivers reduced to 142 due to the re-classification by the SSC of five rivers to include their respective tributaries (previously separately identified but now established that the same stock populates each of these rivers).

When corrected for the 2 common embayments (Erriff/Bundorragha and Owenduff/Owenmore R.) this reduces to 85,666.

When corrected for the 2 common embayments (Erriff/Bundorragha and Owenduff/Owenmore R.) this reduces to 79,027.

When corrected for the 3 common embayments (Erriff/Bundorragha; Owenduff/Owenmore R. and Castlemaine Harbour) this reduces to 87,522.

Regulations and byelaws are available on the Department's website

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