WATERFORD Estuary Fishermen’s Association has submitted a proposal to the Minister of State for Natural Resources, Conor Linehan, to conduct a salmon survey in Waterford Estuary this year.
Reacting favourably to the request, the newly formed Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), in conjunction with estuary fishermen, has put forward a brace of proposals to facilitate the survey.
The objectives include the capture of salmon within the Barrow/Nore/Suir catchment to determine their river of origin by genetic analysis. Information gleaned from the project should provide an assessment of stock abundance on the Barrow where no estimate is currently available. A rod catch tally is available only on the Nore and Suir.
The second objective is to determine the possible presence of salmon from other countries in the estuary.
Sampling of scales and fin clips will take place on five occasions and at five locations in Waterford estuary between mid-July and mid-October. All salmon will be released post survey.
Fisheries personnel will supervise and provide scientific support to the project, while commercial fishermen will advise in relation to fishing areas and supply boats necessary for the survey.
This season the Nore is open to commercial fishing and angling, while the Suir is open to angling on a catch-and-release basis. However, the Barrow remains closed to all fishing for salmon and sea trout.
Salmon management on the Barrow, Nore and Suir has raised many questions, especially since closure of the interceptory drift-net fishery nationwide in 2006, according to the IFI.
“Results of this survey will provide information that can assist in better salmon management for these three rivers, which together have approximately 21 per cent of salmon spawning grounds of Ireland,” the IFI says.
Salmon Watch Ireland would like to stress that the Waterford estuary is a mixed-stock salmon fishery and commercial exploitation of the stocks cannot be contemplated.
The Nore is just above its conservation limit (CL) and the Suir is near to its CL, which indicates that single river management is working in the south east, albeit slowly.
We look forward to receiving full access to the results of this survey, which, at least, will confirm the extent of the mixed stock of salmon in this locality.
Meanwhile, one of the world's most dangerous invasive species has been discovered in the lower reaches of the Barrow and Nore rivers. The Asian clam ( Corbicula fluminea) is regarded as one of the most invasive species found in freshwater.
IFI staff have found dense populations with almost 10,000 clams per metre in the Barrow and further populations seven kilometres downstream of St Mullins.
With the ability to exclude all other life forms by carpeting the river bed, it can devastate salmon, brown trout and sea lamprey populations. In the US the clam causes an estimated $1 billion (€773,263) in damages annually.
The Asian species is self-fertilising, which means only one clam is required to begin a new population. As the clam can be easily spread by man or waterfowl from one watercourse to another, it is vital that action is taken to minimise this risk.
Over the coming weeks intensive surveys will be conducted in both rivers and the connected River Suir to determine its distribution.
Dr Joe Caffrey, senior research officer with IFI, says: “The Asian clam probably represents one of the most potentially damaging invasive species to reach our shores. It is imperative that every action is taken to bring it under control.”
At first glance it looked like a typographic error, but it’s true. Sporadic heavy rainfall helped maintain high water levels on the Moy with salmon taken on the fly, spinner and worm. Throughout the system, anglers reported a total catch in excess of 2,000 salmon!