ANGLING NOTES:THE Irish regulatory system for salmon farming is a shambles and continuously amended over the years to suit the interests of certain actors within the sector, according to Niall Greene, chair of Salmon Watch Ireland (SWI). "And no one in the State sector is holding them to account," he said.
Speaking at the annual general meeting in Limerick Strand Hotel last Saturday week, Greene said SWI’s main emphasis in 2009 was on a campaigning for a improved regulation of salmon farms. The damage caused to migrating salmon and sea trout smolts by poorly managed and sited farms was now indisputable.
Salmon Watch has lodged two formal complaints with the European Commission on Ireland’s failure to comply with the Habitats Directive on managing the industry. The Directorate General has says the matter is now before the Government.
The chairman praised the work of Simon Ashe of Ballinahinch Fishery and SWI for exposing the problems of the salmon farming industry. His findings were aided by Freedom of Information Act requests and Parliamentary Questions, tabled mainly by Deputy Ruairi Quinn.
These efforts are beginning to pay dividends in Bertraghboy Bay and, together with moves on the Habitats Directive, a breakthrough may soon “bring results for hard pressed rivers along the west coast”, Greene said.
“Last year was not a good year for salmon stocks, with a steep decline in the number of fish returning to the coast. While the knock-on effect will result in fewer fish, from an angling perspective it may well heighten the emphasis for catch and release.
Clearly, salmon are facing major new challenges at sea, he said. Hopefully, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation’s Salsea programme will cast some light on the problem. Meanwhile, it appears little can be done to influence those causing the damage.
Salmon Watch has also been active on the cormorant front. In conjunction with the European Landowners’ Organisation, attention was drawn at EU parliament level into the problem of exploding populations of cormorants throughout Europe, which has serious implications for salmon.
In Ireland, an attempt is being made to develop a national policy with stakeholders on the cormorant issue, however, the EU Commission has ruled out a pan-European approach to cormorants.
In his concluding remarks in Limerick, Greene said while Salmon Watch was a small organisation with limited resources, “By identifying and focusing attention on key issues, such as salmon farming, we can and will continue to make a difference.”
- Ireland's Premier Angling Expotakes place this weekend at the National Show Centre in Cloghran, Co Dublin. Now in its 10th year, this popular two-day event will be opened by Jack Charlton and will feature Matt Hayes, presenter of Total Fishingon Sky television.
The show will contain a host of new features including a casting pool, fly-tying demos and interactive youth zone organised by Dublin Angling Initiative. Learn to tie flies with world champion fly-tyers Peter Kealy, Peter Dunne, Ryan Houston and Declan Tuffy.
Matt Hayes, Mary Gavin Hughes and Jim Clohessy will provide an array of tackle presentations and Glenda Powell, Charles Jardine, Paddy McDonnell and Packie Trotter will demonstrate their casting skills.
The launch of Guide to Pike Angling Waters in the Northern Fisheries Regionwill take place at the Central Fisheries Board stand at noon. Organiser Hugh Bonner said: "We've taken on board feedback over the past year and used it to make the show bigger, better and more interactive." See www.irelandanglingexpo.ie