• Barriers Report – Joint Oireactas Committee

    The Committee agreed to examine the issue of barriers to fish migration in Irish rivers as part of its 2024 work programme. The Committee held a number of public engagements and received written submissions on this issue and acknowledged the difficult balance between flood risk management and conservation and enhancement of fish populations.This report contains […]

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  • Atlantic salmon – Coming home earlier, smaller and in a compressed time period

    The annual EPA conference took place in June 2024 in Galway.  Summarising 70 years of research in the Burishoole Catchment, Elvira De Eyto outlined in a very concise and illuminating video presentation how climate data and water quality have changed within this index catchment over 70 years. Our interest is primarily the data surrounding Atlantic […]

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  • Ballisodare Atlantic Salmon Mortalities

    With a large number of mortalities and an ongoing investigation by IFI and the Marine Institute it would suffice to say that to lose up to 900 adult salmon is a tragic outcome for this river. We await the outcome of the investigation but we are aware that it appears that the losses are primarily […]

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  • Atlantic Salmon News

    High Court Ruling – A good day for Atlantic salmon The long running high court case against the Aquaculture Licence Appeals Board and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine received judgement on Friday 12th July, and we were successful in having the decision to issue a salmon farm licence at Shot Head in […]

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  • Marine Institute – Sea Trout Collapse

    This is a graph of sea trout collapse in the Burishoole system in the west of Ireland. This is a stark reminder that sea trout and salmon farming are mutually exclusive. Salmon farms basically make sea trout survival impossible. This station is operated by the Marine Institute which is in denial of the destruction of […]

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  • Lots of Licences for Salmon Farming – DAFM Active

    Spate of Salmon Aquaculture Licence Applications for renewal and review. They are not out for public consultation as yet but will be in a number of days. Please find link to applications.   https://www.gov.ie/en/search/?q=&sort_by=published_date&type=aquaculture_licence#search_result_label_id

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  • Genetic Impact – Escapees Norway – Is Ireland suffering same outcome

    This is a very impressive portal which demonstrates the genetic introgression from farmed fish on river catchments. The resource is alarming as it shows how escapees have spawned and affected wild genetic integrity. In Ireland reports of escapes are non existent but we understand that a study is ongoing to understand the extent of introgression […]

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  • New Study on plankton in North Atlantic – Atlantic Salmon Survival

    This new study reinforces the belief that Atlantic salmon survival has been compromised substantially by a changing ecosystem in the North Atlantic. We must redouble our efforts to substantially increase wild healthy juveniles going to sea and give them the best chance of survival by protecting water quality and habitat integrity. Mitigation for ecosystem compromise […]

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  • Please Help Atlantic Salmon in 2024

    This year we have seen a continuation of poor returns to Irish rivers. There may be many factors involved in this situation but it is evident that we collectively need to secure as many large spawning fish as possible to bolster compromised spawning escapement. To help in this matter Salmon Watch Ireland is asking all […]

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  • Kenmare Bay – Disregard for Special Area of Conservation

    Kenmare Bay is located in the South West of Ireland and is home to two currently operating salmon farms (Deenish and Inishfarnard) owned and operated by MOWI. There are two other farms within the bay which are not currently operating with a further application pending for another site near Inishfarnard.  The farm at Deenish was […]

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