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Salmon
stats 2002 catches
Southern
Region Fisheries Board
Contact
us about the campaign
Associated Clubs
Abbeyleix
Anglers
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Anglers
Athy
Anglers
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Anglers
Bennettsbridge
Anglers
Blackwater Fly Fishing
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Cahir
& District Angling Club
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Angling Club
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Tipperary & Golden Angling Club
Clonmel
Salmon & Trout Anglers
Clonmeen
& Ballyduff Salmon Club
Clonmel
Anglers
Dundrum
& District Anglers
Durrow
Angling Club
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Angling Club
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Inistioge
Anglers Club
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Anglers
Kilkenny
Anglers Association
Kilkenny
& County Anglers
Kilsheelan
Anglers
Mount Leinster
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Mountmellick
Anglers
Mountrath
& District Anglers Club
Portarlington
Angling Club
Rathdowney
Anglers Association
Suir
Federation
Thomastown
Anglers Association
Tullow
Salmon & Trout Anglers Association
Waterford
City & District Trout Anglers Club
Wollengrange
Anglers
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Scandal of Salmon
Management in the Nore/Suir/Barrow River Systems
In the Nore/Suir/Barrow area, the total
salmon caught by rod in 2002 was 2,068. This, the scientists (in
a report to Southern Regional Fisheries Board Feb 2004) calculate,
indicates that the total amount of salmon entering these rivers in 2002
was 9,420. They state that these rivers need a minimum of 39,500
salmon in order to be sustainable.
So where are all the fish going?
Salmon follow a migratory path from their feeding grounds off Greenland
to their spawning streams in the Nore/Suir/Barrow catchment area. This
path is along the west and south coast of Ireland. Our salmon travelling
this route are a target for commercial fishermen along the way.
The Waterford region - ie. Nore/Suir/Barrow, has 173 drift net licences
and they caught 11,753 salmon in 2002.
The Lismore area has 80 drift net licences. They caught 12,746
salmon in 2002.
Further afield, Cork area has 110 drift net licences and caught 25,462
salmon in 2002.
Further along, Kerry has 39 drift net licences and caught a staggering 25,309
salmon.
The total Irish commercial catch in 2002 was 206,899 salmon. Anecdotal
evidence suggests that the drift net catches may be 2-3 times the
figures quoted above. The Regional Fisheries Boards admit they have no
resources to monitor catches which reinforces this anecdotal evidence.
Scientists claim that the Nore/Suir/Barrow can produce 23% of all the
salmon in Ireland; therefore we should have about 50,000 salmon in our
system which is well above the minimum level of 39,500 salmon required.
However this year the scientists have advised that no fish should be
caught in our region due to the disastrous position of our salmon
stocks.
Scientists have also demanded that the practice of netting multi-species
fishing be abandoned - ie. netsmen in Kerry should not catch salmon
destined for the Nore/Suir/Barrow. Like other reports which we the
taxpayer has funded, our politicians have chosen to ignore the advice.
The 2003 Indecon report suggest that the 2002 commercial catch (206,899
salmon) was worth €4.33 million to the economy while the 2002 angling
catch (29,408 salmon) was worth €11 million to the economy.
The present system is clearly and demonstrably unfair to our local
community and our local economy. How can we manage and sustain such a
wonderful resource when our salmon are ambushed on their way home? Why
should a minority in other localities be allowed to destroy our salmon?
Soon hopeful EU and council candidates will be looking for your vote.
Do us all a favour and demand to know what they propose to do about this
situation.
(Published on behalf of the
South East Salmon Federation)
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