Minister Sean Kyne announces 78 rivers open for salmon angling in 2018

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Minister Sean Kyne announces 78 rivers open for salmon angling in 2018

Minister welcomes positive review of 'Catch and Release' policy

Mr. Sean Kyne T.D., Minister with responsibility for the inland fisheries sector, has approved a suite of regulations and bye-laws that will govern the wild salmon and sea trout fisheries in 2018. These will come into effect from Monday 1 January 2018.

Minister Kyne said: "In all, 78 rivers will open for angling activity in 2018 and this will provide opportunities for all to share this important natural resource on a sustainable basis. 42 of these rivers will be fully open with a further 36 for angling on a 'Catch and Release' basis. I had asked Inland Fisheries Ireland to carry out a full review of the 'Catch and Release' element of fisheries management policy ahead of the 2018 season and this has resulted in an additional 12 rivers open on a 'Catch and Release' basis which otherwise would have been closed."

Minister Kyne had received management advice from IFI in relation to over 140 genetically individual wild salmon stocks in Ireland, in advance of setting out the legislation for 2018. This advice was also made available as part of a public consultation process.  This was based on the scientific assessment of the current status of all stocks carried out by the independent Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon. This committee comprises scientists from a range of organisations.

Photo (l to r): IFI CEO, Dr Ciaran Byrne, Minister Sean Kyne TD, and IFI Chairperson, Fintan Gorman

Over 130 submissions were considered as part of the public consultation process. Based on this, the Minister has introduced conservation measures for the management of the wild salmon and sea trout fishery in 2018.

Management advice, supported by scientific assessment of rivers/estuaries/harbours, is that:-

78 rivers should be open for angling, of which:

• 42 rivers should be open, as a surplus of fish has been identified in these rivers;
• 36 rivers should be classified as open for 'catch and release' angling.

68 rivers should be closed, as they have no surplus of fish available for harvest.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Summary of main changes to the management of the wild salmon fishery in 2017

1.  Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations S.I. No. 602 of 2017

These Regulations provide for the quotas of fish that can be harvested by commercial fishing engines and rod and line from those rivers identified in Schedule 2.  The Regulations also provide for the use of brown tags in specified rivers which are identified in Schedule 4.

2. Angling Byelaw No. 955, 2017

This Bye-law prohibits the use of any fish hooks, other than single barbless hooks, and also prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for all species of fish in the waters specified in the Bye-law.

3. Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Bag Limits) Bye-law No. 956, 2017

Provides for an annual bag limit of 10 fish being either salmon or sea trout (over 40 cm) per angler and provides for a season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 January to 11 May, a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August and a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season. The Bye-law also provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified numbers of fish have been caught in the specified periods. 

4. Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Catch and Release) Bye-law No. 957, 2017

Provides for 'Catch and Release' in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in rivers that are meeting at least 50% of their Conservation Limit as mentioned in the Bye-law. The Bye-law also provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for salmon and sea trout over 40 cm.

5. Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (River Suir) Bye-law No. 958, 2017.

This Bye-Law provides for catch and release in angling for salmon (any size) and sea trout (over 40cm) in the River Suir (including the waters of the Rivers Clodiagh, Lingaun and Blackwater) and also prohibits the use of worms, prawn, shrimp or any other crustacean, or artificial forms thereof, as bait and any fish hooks other than single barbless hooks during the period 17 March to 30 Sept, 2018.

6. Conservation of Sea Trout Bye-law No. 959, 2017

This Bye-law provides for a daily bag limit of 3 sea trout (less than 40 cm in length) and provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of sea trout has been caught.

7. Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Closed Rivers) Bye-law No. C.S. 323, 2017

Prohibits the taking or attempting to take by rod and line salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the rivers specified in the Bye-law.