Dear Supporter,

Please find attached Newsletter 46, in which we take a detailed look at Inland Fisheries Ireland’s latest fish-counter data and what the results tell us about the changing fortunes of Ireland’s wild salmon and sea trout.

The five-year comparison presents a mixed picture. There are encouraging signs on rivers such as the Feale, Eske and Kerry Blackwater, while the exceptionally poor result from the Lackagh and the continuing weakness of salmon returns to the Erriff underline the seriousness of the challenges facing many stocks.

We also look more closely at the Erriff sea-trout population and salmon farming in Killary Harbour. Combining counter results with IFI tagging and telemetry studies and Marine Institute sea-lice monitoring provides important evidence of the relationship between farm conditions, lice pressure and wild sea-trout survival. The increase from 844 sea trout in 2023 to 1,356 in 2024 and 2,089 in 2025 is particularly noteworthy.

The newsletter also highlights the encouraging performance of the Feale, where catch-and-release and the absence of commercial exploitation are allowing more returning salmon the opportunity to reach the spawning grounds.

Finally, we consider the continuing gaps in Ireland’s fish-counter network, particularly at Waterville/Currane, and why reliable long-term monitoring must be central to future salmon conservation.

We hope you find the newsletter informative and, as always, welcome your comments and observations.

Newsletter Number 46 - 2025 Consolidated Fish Counter Report