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A changing ecosystem – The decline of Atlantic salmon
In this issue, we introduce recent peer-reviewed scientific research that provides important insight into the continuing decline of Atlantic salmon at sea. While much attention has focused on rivers, the evidence increasingly shows that the greatest losses are occurring in the marine environment — particularly in the critical early weeks after young salmon enter the […]
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Newsletter Number 30 – 07Feb 2025
Salmon Watch Ireland response to updated draft tagging regulations Salmon Watch Ireland acknowledges that the updated draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2026 include measures that continue to provide important protection for spring salmon, particularly through the retention of strict controls outside the main summer harvest period. The organisation recognises the importance […]
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Newsletter Number 29 – 30 January 2025
The newsletter opens with an overview of a recent Canadian federal court ruling on salmon aquaculture, which confirmed the right of governments to act decisively and precautionarily in defence of wild salmon, even where such decisions carry significant economic consequences. This case provides a timely and relevant international context for policy and regulatory decisions now […]
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Salmon Watch Ireland Newsletter Issue Number 28 – 10 January 2026
Irish Salmon at a Crossroads: What the Latest Science Is Telling Us A series of recent scientific reports paint a clear and concerning picture for Atlantic salmon in Ireland. Taken together, long-term monitoring in rivers and new research on marine ecosystems show that salmon declines are being driven by linked pressures across the entire life […]
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Newsletter Number 27 – 16 December 2025 Salmon Watch Ireland
We are writing to share our latest newsletter, which focuses on the urgent need to curtail salmon exploitation and the importance of the tagging measures announced by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The newsletter outlines the biological necessity of maximising the number of salmon reaching the spawning grounds in light of the continued and severe decline in […]
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Newsletter Number 26 – Changing Waters – Why salmon need full system protection more than ever.
We are publishing this newsletter as a result of suggestions that some individuals argue that catch-and-release does little to help revive wild salmon, claiming that broader environmental pressures make angling practices irrelevant. We fundamentally disagree. In rivers that are below their Conservation Limit, every surviving adult is vital to the future of the stock. When […]
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Gearhies Bantry Bay Submission – Salmon Watch Ireland
Salmon Watch Ireland (SWI) submits that aquaculture licences T05/122 and T05/122A cannot lawfully be renewed. The application by Murphy’s Irish Sea Food fails to meet fundamental requirements under the Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive (WFD), EIA Directive, and the Nature Restoration Law, and does not remove the scientific doubt necessary to permit authorisation. Legal Compliance […]
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Press Release Salmon Watch Ireland – New Conservation Measures
Salmon Watch Ireland Strongly Welcomes 2026 Salmon Protection Measures and Calls for a Fair Transition Away from All Commercial Exploitation 22 November 2025 Atlantic salmon stocks in Ireland have reached critically low levels, and decisive intervention is now essential to ensure that as many fish as possible survive to reach their spawning grounds in the […]
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Salmon Tagging Regulations – Newsletter Number 25 – November 25-2025
Across Ireland, Atlantic salmon stocks have reached alarmingly low levels, a situation clearly reflected in Inland Fisheries Ireland’s 2026 scientific assessments. Many rivers now fall below 65% of their Conservation Limit (CL) resulting in unprecedented numbers of rivers being designated Catch & Release only or fully closed under the 2026 Wild Salmon and Sea Trout […]
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Newsletter Re: Exploitation – Number 24
We are pleased to announce the release of our latest Wild Salmon Conservation Newsletter, which presents the initial key themes, priorities, and actions identified through public feedback on how best to manage exploitation and implement effective policies to increase wild smolt production and improve adult salmon returns. The newsletter highlights the issues that matter most to […]
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