Anglers urged to report catches of Pacific pink salmon

Anglers across the country are being asked to report any catches of Pacific pink salmon following the first reported catch in Ireland this year from the Ridge Pool, Moy Fishery, Co Mayo, last weekend.

Also known as humpback, pink salmon were very rare in Irish waters until 2017 and are believed to have originated from stocking programmes in Russia. Scientists are concerned that if large numbers of the non-native species enter Irish rivers, this may have negative impacts on salmon and trout populations in the future.

The following is a short list to follow if one of these species is caught: a) do not release back into the water, (b) record date and location, length and weight, (c) take a photograph, tag and report findings.

Paddy Gargan with Inland Fisheries Ireland, said: “Pink salmon display aggressive behaviour towards native fish and a large invasion could push out Atlantic salmon and trout from holding pools into smaller channels.”

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“There is only limited information available to assess the threat [THEY POSE], so we are asking the angling community to report any sightings to our 24-hour confidential hotline on 1890 34 74 24.”

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“I really enjoyed the whole experience of learning to become an angling coach”, said Mary Harkin of Rory’s Tackle Shop in Temple Bar, Dublin. “While I have a vast knowledge of all aspects of angling, it was important to learn the coaching skills to encourage would-be newcomers, especially women, into the sport,” she said.

At Ballyshunnock Reservoir in Co Waterford last Sunday, the final practical session took place at which 12 women received their coaching certificates. The course was the first-ever “only women” angling coach training in Ireland and made possible with assistance from Sport Ireland Coaching and the National Coarse Angling Federation of Ireland (NCFFI).

In September 2020, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) issued a call to experienced women anglers interested in developing their coaching skills. The call resulted in eight online workshops that included coaching skills, safety, fishing tools and equipment, biosecurity and “catch and release” practices.

Then in May this year, 12 women took part in an NCFFI certified course of blended learning involving three online webinars around the fundamentals of angling and coaching. Equipped with this extensive coaching, the course concluded last Sunday at Ballyshunnock Reservoir.

One of IFI’s goals is to make angling more accessible through various initiatives and programmes, some of which are supported through the Dormant Accounts Fund. In a survey with women interested in trying angling, respondents expressed a preference in learning from women coaches.

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Two young poets from Tipperary and Carlow have scooped the top prizes in this year’s Something Fishy national poetry competition. Orlaith Timmons, a fifth-class pupil from Moycarkey National School in Thurles and Aoibhé Kieran, a sixth-class pupil from Ballon National School in Carlow each won the top prize in their categories for their nature-themed poetry.

From over 100 entries, the judging panel also selected runners-up from Ballon National School and Bennekerry National School (Carlow), Scoil Mhuire National School in Corofin (Galway), Scoil Cholmcille in Greencastle (Donegal) and St Canice’s Girls National School in Finglas (Dublin).

Earlier this year, primary school students were challenged to create an “acrostic” poem, where the first letter of each line spells out the word “stream” or “sruth” (for an Irish language poem).

The overall winners received a fishing kit to the value of €100 and runners-up an outdoor field trip kit, worth €50. Third placed and special category winners received goody bags.

The competition is an important element of the wider Something Fishy educational programme which educates students on the importance of biodiversity, sustainable habitats, fish and angling.

Despite school closures during the 2020/2021 academic year, online content was still available to pupils and teachers through the official website at www.somethingfishy.ie.

Announcing the winners, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan said: “Through this environmental competition, primary school children have shown huge enthusiasm for nature, fish, other wildlife and the world around us. Improving our children’s knowledge and understanding of biodiversity through initiatives like this one, will be an important part of our climate action efforts.”

Winning poems can be read at http://somethingfishy.ie/schools/.

If you have an angling story to share, please send it to angling@irishtimes.com