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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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Conference Proceedings – Salmon Watch Ireland, Athlone 11 October 2025
This special conference edition — “Protecting Wild Salmon: Science, Stewardship, and Accountability” — captures the key discussions and outcomes from our 2025 Athlone Conference. Inside you’ll find: Science and Survival: Dr. Elvira de Eyto on seven decades of data from Burrishoole, and Dr. Paddy Gargan confirming the clear link between sea lice and salmon mortality. Grassroots Action: Maura Brennan’s […]
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Deenish Island – ALAB Determination – Letter to Minister Heydon DAFM
Dear Minister Heyden, On behalf of Salmon Watch Ireland, I write to express our profound concern at the recent determination of the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB). The decision, in our considered view, undermines the protection of Ireland’s wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout and fails to uphold the standards required under Irish and European […]
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