INLAND FISHERIES Ireland (IFI) in partnership with Norwegian scientists from the University of Tromsø have conducted a pilot salmon tagging programme where kelts from the Blackwater and Suir rivers were fitted with satellite tags to investigate their marine movements and feeding location.
In March 2010, 17 salmon were captured in the rivers, moved to a sea water cage for a week, tagged with satellite pop-off tags and released to sea. Detailed data has provided valuable information on their life at sea, including migration routes, on a daily basis.
Inland fisheries has reported that a salmon from the Blackwater recorded the deepest dive ever recorded for salmon at 900m (2,953ft). The temperature data also indicated exposure to predation from whales when passing the Atlantic rift south of Iceland on their way to west Greenland.
The pilot project showed that adult salmon migrate to feeding areas south and south west of Iceland and Greenland 11 weeks after leaving the river. No fish were found near the Faroe islands or Norwegian sea as is the case for smolts recorded in the Salsea programme.This project will provide data on the survival of previously spawned salmon. It is estimated these fish may account for up to 20 per cent of the salmon run in some Irish rivers.
Dr Paddy Gargan, senior research officer at inland fisheries, said: “Results from a Norwegian salmon tracking project show adult salmon feed along the polar front and the Irish pilot tagging appears to confirm this. Changes in the polar front resulting from climate change may change the location of marine feeding of salmon which can be assessed using this tagging technology.”
Tagging of salmon kelts took place again in March 2011 with 10 salmon from the Suir, Nore and Barrow tagged and released off Dunmore East. The tags are programmed to pop-off in July, August and September providing data on migration routes, location, depth and temperature profiles during marine migration.
* Waterways Ireland has published revised navigation guides to the Shannon-Erne waterway and Erne system, and two free guides entitled What’s On Guide 2011 and Publications Catalogue.
The revised charts take into account upgrade work that has taken place in recent years along the navigation system in joint partnership with the Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland. The price remains unchanged at €10.
What’s On 2011 is free to all events along the waterway corridors and the catalogue highlights publications Waterways Ireland offers for sale. A photographic book on Lough Erne has also just been published.
All publications are available from shopwaterwaysireland.org or tourist centres along the navigations.
* John McLaughlin is holding a fly-casting course at the Meadows Trout Fishery, Letterkenny, Co Donegal, on Saturday, May 28th. All types of single and double-handed casting will be included. The course is limited to six people and costs €35. For bookings call 087-2929888 or e-mail jmclswillyflies@eircom.net
* To formally launch the formation of all-Ireland fishing club, Fishing Talk Ireland, an open match will be held at Toomans Fishery, Dromod, Co Leitrim, on Sunday, June 26th.To register visit fishingtalkireland.com or e-mail endahick@gmail.com. All are welcome.