Draft Copy Salmon & Sea Trout Regulations 2016

Joe McHugh, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, gives statutory notice of his intention to make the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations, 2015 to provide for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery by Inland Fisheries Ireland from 1st January 2016.
A copy of the draft regulations (S.I. No. xxx of 2015), is open for public inspection at the offices of the Department in Cavan and also at the offices of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Bringing Back the Salmon Nets is not the Answer

Sent in by John O'Brien Concerned Angler

Having read the article in the Irish Mirror Online 22-11-2015 I have to disagree with Chairman of Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation Mr Jerry Early on the ban of salmon fishing 2006 where he states "stocks of salmon have not increased since that time and has demanded the ban be lifted".

Mr Early's statement is very ill informed as salmon numbers did improve after the 2006 ban. If anything our wild salmon should be allowed to continue their safe passage to migrate back up the rivers to spawn without the threat of interception by Salmon nets that have been proven to be highly destructive in their capacity to damage salmon numbers.

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/demand-ban-super-trawlers-irish-6873922

Massive Super Trawler The Margiris 50 miles off Donegal Bay

She's back. Today (Friday 6 November 2015), the second largest fishing boat in the world, Margiris, is fishing just off Donegal Bay. This super trawler was banned from Australia, but now as a European registered fishing vessel, the vessel is permitted to operate in any European waters and can fish in any area and retain on board any fish for which it has a nationally assigned European quota. She is currently fishing 50 miles off Donegal Bay.


More About the Margiris

In 2012, Seafish Tasmania brought the ship (then named the Abel Tasman) to Australia. She was originally authorized to catch a quota of 18,000 tonnes of jack mackerel and redbait along the southern shores of the country. After protests against her use by environmental and fishing industry groups, the Australian government passed legislation prohibiting the trawler from fishing in Australian waters for two years^. 

For this reason, Seafish Tasmania subsequently sold its stake in the vessel to Dutch company Parlevliet & Van der Plas. On March 6, 2013, after six months moored in Australian waters, she left Port Lincoln, having ressumed her original name of Margiris.

After leaving Australian waters, the vessel passed through Cook Strait, New Zealand on March 20, 2013. She was now flagged to Lithuania and owned by Atlantic High Sea Fishing Company.

Margiris arrived in Port of Penco, Chile on April 7, 2013. The vessel did not berth and steamed out of the bay to fish.

The Super Trawler issue was subject to a court challenge in 2014 and an Australian Government scientific report published in late 2014. Before and after this report there was reaffirmation that super trawlers over 130 metres, like Margiris, would not be permitted under Australia's environmental protection law, yet controversy continues in Australia about factory-fishing boats.

Men prosecuted for assaulting and obstructing a Fishery Officer on River Aherlow

Men prosecuted for assaulting and obstructing a Fishery Officer on River Aherlow

At a sitting of Fermoy District Court on 16th October 2015, Judge Brian Sheridan prosecuted three men who had pleaded guilty to a number of offences following an incident that occurred on the upper River Aherlow near Anglesborough, Co. Limerick on the 20th November 2014.

On that date, Fishery Officers from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) were undertaking a night time patrol of the river Aherlow during the salmon spawning season. During the investigation, an incident developed which resulted in one Fishery Officer being assaulted and struck with a handle of a shovel. Other Fishery Officers were subjected to threats of violence and abusive language.

Mr Patrick Sheehan Junior, Galbally, Co. Limerick was prosecuted for assaulting, obstructing and refusing to give his name to Fishery Officers. Mr Patrick Sheehan Senior, Ballylanders, Co. Limerick was prosecuted for possession of a lamp on a spawning stream, obstructing and refusing to give his name to Fishery Officers. Mr Richard Childs, Galbally, Co. Limerick was prosecuted for obstructing Fishery Officers.

Judge Brian Sheridan imposed the following penalties: Patrick Sheehan Junior was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years on the defendant signing a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the said period of two years. He was also fined €500 in addition to legal costs of €630. Patrick Sheehan Senior was fined €500 in addition to legal costs of €630. Mr. Richard Childs was fined €250 in addition to legal costs of €630.

“This is not just about the fish”, stated IFI CEO Dr Ciaran Byrne, “it is about protecting over 3000 Irish jobs that rely on our endangered salmon stocks and also ensuring the safety of IFI staff who work to protect and conserve this valuable natural resource for the benefit of rural communities throughout Ireland, including the Aherlow river.”

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the general public to report incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.

Hugh Falkus Fly Casting Video

We found a great casting tuition video of the famous Hugh Falkus. Enjoy...

Salmon Watch Ireland Event - ‘Hatcheries and stocking – have they a role in restoring Atlantic salmon stocks?’

Can hatcheries restore Ireland's dwindling Atlantic salmon stocks. The conference will investigate the potential of stocking and how or indeed if it can be used to help restore Ireland's dwindling stocks of Atlantic salmon. 

Speakers will include Dr David Solomon, consultant on salmonoid fish and fisheries, Professor Carlos Garcia de Laeniz, University of Swansea, Dr Mick Millane, Inland Fisheries Ireland and Dr Stephen Marsh- Smith, Wye and Usk Foundation.

Salmon Watch Ireland

Saturday, 21 November 2015 from 11:00 to 17:00 

Ballsbridge Hotel,
Pembroke Road,
Dublin 4
Ireland

Tickets Available Here >>>

About Organiser: Salmon Watch Ireland

Salmon Watch Ireland is a membership organisation dedicated to the restoration of salmon abundance in Ireland. It is the successor organisation to Stop Salmon Drifts Nets Now which, from 2004 to 2007, led the successful campaign for the abolition of mixed stock fishing for salmon (commonly known as drift netting) off the Irish coast.

Salmon Watch Ireland is a company limited by guarantee governed by the Companies Acts. The Memorandum of Association of the company adopted at its 2007 Annual General Meeting sets out the following objectives:

To do all things necessary to contribute to the conservation and restoration to abundance of the wild Atlantic salmon and in particular to engage in research, training, education, advocacy and campaign programmes directed towards that end.

To raise awareness among the public of the threat to stocks of wild salmon and the measures needed to restore salmon abundance, of the heritage, environmental, social, economic and recreational importance of achieving that objective and of the particular threat that would be posed to salmon stocks by any restoration of mixed stock fishing for salmon.

 

Simon Toussifar Catching & Releasing a Silver One!

Simon Toussifar Recreational Fly Fisherman & Environmentalist

Fly Fisherman Simon Toussifar sportingly puts back a salmon on the river after a great battle on the fly. Simon explained how he releases many salmon every year while keeping only one or two each season. Salmon are under pressure and its nice to give something back to give them a chance to spawn for future generations.

Simon Toussifar 

Rare Catch at Garretstown Beach, Kinsale , Cork

Rare catch at Garretstown Beach, Kinsale , Cork - An Amberjack Fish usually only seen in tropical waters in the Caribbean was caught by an american tourist yesterday! Amberjacks are voracious predators, which feed on squid, fish, and crustaceans, and they usually weigh around 18 kg (40 pounds)

River Runner Documentary available to see at Cork Omniplex Cinemas

RIVER RUNNER is a feature length documentary of a river system in southern Ireland that holds many secrets. This is the true story of the plight of the wild Atlantic salmon and the near catastrophic clear felling of a unique river forest. The dilemma is lucidly explained by a world class salmon angler, Alan Nolan, who is at home on the lower reaches of the river Lee. Further upstream beyond two dams, constructed in the 1950’s, another secret cloaked for a half a century is explained by environmental & ecology expert Kevin Corcoran. The Gearagh is an inland river forest delta, one of only four on our blue planet. Several hundred acres of this ancient forest, especially age old oaks and yew trees, were cut down to enable the efficient production of electricity. A unique community of Irish speaking forest dwellers, 39 homes and farmsteads, were issued compulsory purchase orders. These houses were dynamited out of existence. The question has never been answered whether this was truly necessary for the sake of progress? The plight of the magnificent wild Atlantic salmon in what was once known as the Silver Lee, due to the abundance of fish, continues to remain critical.

Inland Fisheries Ireland Launch Public Consultation on National Angling Development Plan

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has today (20.02.15) launched a public consultation in preparation for the development of a National Angling Development Plan (NADP).  It is envisaged that the NADP will provide criteria, support and proposals to ensure the sustainability of Ireland’s angling resource and the continuing sustainable development of that resource to maximise the benefits (social and economic) to Ireland on a prioritised basis.

Anglers, angling clubs, angling federations, fishery owners, community groups, angling service providers, state agencies and members of the public are being invited to make submissions which may include: strategies for the development of angling, physical development projects, novice angler initiatives, evaluation criteria of fisheries status by species/discipline type (i.e. what makes a good fishery) and angling/fishery support service requirements; submissions can be formulated on a national, regional or local basis as necessary.

 An essential part of IFIs consideration will be how a development plan can be implemented, the resource requirements and how the support of fishery owners, anglers, state bodies and other stakeholders can be garnered so that the sector prospers.   

Minister of State Joe Mc Hugh TD, who has responsibility for the Inland Fisheries sector, said “IFI have been tasked to formulate a comprehensive development plan on a National basis, the need for which clearly arises form the most complete study of the sector ever undertaken”.  “I want to encourage a consultation process which is inclusive and which embraces Angling Federations, Local Authorities and other interested bodies but which also permeates right through to local club and community level.  This is an opportunity to be heard and to contribute to strategy and policy for a sector than can further underpin development and employment in rural, costal and peripheral communities”, he added..

A recent study of the recreational angling sector in Ireland, carried out by the international consultancy company, Tourism Development International (TDI), commissioned by IFI estimated that recreational angling in Ireland contributes €755 million to the Irish economy annually. The study showed that direct spending on angling in Ireland amounted to €555 million in 2012, with indirect and induced spending worth an additional €310 million. Following adjustments for imports and displacement, the overall economic impact of recreational angling in Ireland was estimated to be €755 million. Recreational angling was also found to directly support 10,000 existing Irish jobs, many of which are located in the most peripheral and rural parts of the Irish countryside and along our coastline.

The study found that 406,000 people were involved in recreational angling in Ireland during 2012, with over 150,000 of these travelling from Northern Ireland and overseas. Over a quarter of a million Irish adults (252,000) held a fishing rod in 2012 with sea angling along with salmon and brown trout angling seen as the most popular categories where domestic anglers are concerned. The quality of the Irish angling product, the friendliness and hospitality of the Irish people and our outstanding scenery were cited amongst the principal attractions of Ireland as an international destination for recreational angling. Tourism angling spend is estimated at approximately €280 million on an annual basis.


Further information on the consultation is available at www.fisheriesireland.ie. A template for making submissions is also available on the website or alternatively one may be requested from local IFI offices.

Submissions must be made in writing, marked ‘NADP – public consultation’ and addressed to Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland, 3044 Lake Drive, Citywest, Dublin 24 or by email to nadp.publicconsult@fisheriesireland.ie.
The deadline for receipt of submissions is 3pm on Tuesday 31st March 2015.


Further Information:
Suzanne Campion
Head of Business Development
Inland Fisheries Ireland
3044 Lake Drive,
Citywest,
Dublin.
 
Tel: 01 8842600
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Note for Editors:
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.