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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 salmon stocks. It highlights why maintaining adequate spawning escapement is fundamental to stock recovery, genetic integrity, and long-term resilience, and why precautionary management measures are essential at this time. We also emphasise that exploitation controls alone are not sufficient. A proactive and coordinated response is required both nationally and internationally to address the many pressures affecting salmon throughout their life cycle. We therefore ask all stakeholders to support the exploitation and tagging measures introduced by Inland Fisheries Ireland as part of a wider effort to safeguard this species. We would like to thank all those who continue to engage constructively and support these necessary actions. Your cooperation is vital to ensuring that enough spawners remain to protect and restore Atlantic salmon populations for the future.
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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 marine survival is at historic lows and multiple pressures—warming waters, predation, habitat loss,aquaculture impacts, and bycatch—are already removing fish at every stage of their life cycle, the one thing we can control immediately is exploitation. Catch-and-release is not a cure-all, but it is a crucial, measurable way to ensure more spawners reach the gravel. It is an act of responsibility, restraint, and stewardship—and when stocks are depleted, releasing salmon is one of the most direct contributions an individual can make to the recovery of the species.
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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 years ahead. The species is caught in a rapidly accelerating decline, with many rivers falling far short of the numbers needed to sustain healthy future populations. Without urgent and meaningful conservation measures, we risk pushing Atlantic salmon toward irreversible collapse. Accordingly, Salmon Watch Ireland welcomes the publication of the 2026 Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations and associated Information Note, commending the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) for taking decisive, science-driven action to protect Ireland’s diminishing wild salmon stocks. Salmon Watch Ireland describes the new framework as one of the most encouraging conservation steps in over a decade, signalling a genuine commitment to reversing long-term decline. A Clear, Science-Led Approach to Salmon Conservation The 2026 regulations introduce some of the strongest salmon conservation measures in recent years, including: Mandatory Catch & Release from 1 January to 31 May, protecting vulnerable spring salmon Harvest only from 1 June to 31 August on rivers with a proven surplus. A seasonal bag limit of three salmon for recreational anglers on rivers with a harvestable surplus. Improved conservation limits (CL) thresholds, aligned with best conservation international practice Expanded protection for multi-sea-winter (MSW) salmon. However, the organisation encourages the Department to keep the situation under review and consider whether a future maximum size limit could help protect the largest, most important spawning fish. Closure to exploitation in September. Closure of significant number of commercial salmon fisheries “These are robust and welcome reforms,” said John Murphy, Salmon Watch Ireland spokesperson. “The Department has shown leadership, transparency, and a real understanding of the pressures facing this iconic species.” Commercial Fisheries: Time for a Fair, Supportive Transition Salmon Watch Ireland notes that a small number of draft-net commercial fisheries, including the Laune Estuary and Cork Harbour, remain technically capable of operating in 2026 based on available stocks. We have sought clarification on the status of one further fishery. This organisation fully respects the heritage and rights of these fishers. However, given sustained declines in national and international salmon returns, Salmon Watch Ireland believes the next constructive step is: A closure of all remaining commercial fisheries Supported by a fair, well-funded compensation and transition scheme This would provide certainty for fishers while aligning Ireland with modern international conservation standards. “Commercial fishers have operated legally. They deserve respect — and proper compensation — as Ireland moves toward a fully conservation-based salmon policy.” A Shared Mission to Restore Wild Salmon Salmon Watch Ireland applauds the direction of travel in the 2026 regulations and urges continued national action on: Water quality improvements Habitat restoration and barrier removal Enhanced enforcement resourcing Addressing climate and marine survival pressures Tackling aquaculture-related impacts “This is the most hopeful moment for salmon conservation in many years,” the spokesperson concluded. “With continued collaboration among stakeholders — and a fair, well-designed transition away from commercial exploitation — Ireland can restore its wild salmon for future generations.”
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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 anglers, conservationists, and local communities—including enforcement, habitat restoration, marine survival challenges, aquaculture concerns, and the urgent need for coordinated action across agencies. Your input has been invaluable, and this summary reflects the collective voice of those committed to protecting Ireland’s wild salmon. We encourage you to read it, share it, and continue engaging as we move forward with stronger advocacy and evidence-based policy proposals. If you have any comments or wish to contribute further, we’d be delighted to hear from you. The survey is still live and you are welcome to contribute if you have not done so. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to safeguarding our wild salmon. Wild Salmon Conservation Newsletter Number 24
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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 Nore Vision project showing the power of community-led stewardship. Policy and Law: Emma Armshaw (SWAN) on the incompatibility of open-net salmon farming with EU clean-water directives. A Call to Action: From pollution reporting to citizen science — discover how you can make a difference. Thank you for your continued support in protecting Ireland’s wild salmon. Newsletter Number 22 Final
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Salmon – Are Mackerel an Issue
The Expansion of Northeast Atlantic Mackerel and Its Potential Impacts on Atlantic Salmon Introduction Since the mid-2000s, Northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) have undergone a major northward and westward expansion, with large feeding migrations into Faroese, Icelandic, and Greenlandic waters. This shift has reshaped fisheries and sparked disputes among coastal states, but it may also have important ecosystem consequences — particularly for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), whose marine survival has declined dramatically over a long time period but has reached new lows consistent with timing of these fisheries and change in ocean ecosytem. Mackerel catches by country ICES data show how mackerel catches shifted after 2005. Norway has long been the dominant harvester, but Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and later Greenland developed large fisheries once mackerel began occurring in their zones. Russia also maintains a sizeable fishery. Expansion into feeding areas The rise in catches by Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroes reflects the northward and westward shift of the stock’s summer feeding distribution. Once concentrated in the North Sea and Norwegian Sea, mackerel have become abundant as far west as East Greenland. However this trend appears to be reversing with a trend of distribution coming back towards more normal areas. Also stock size is declining with ICES choosing to recommend large reductions in quota. Ecological overlap with salmon Atlantic salmon smolts leaving rivers in Norway, UK, and Ireland migrate into the Norwegian Sea and areas adjacent to feed during their first summer at sea. This is the region where mackerel have expanded and increased in biomass in recent decades. Both salmon post-smolts (Directly and Indirectly) and mackerel, along with other pelagic species, depend on copepods especially cold-water copepods whose abundance has declined in much of the area due to ocean warming. This creates strong potential for food competition. An often-overlooked aspect is not only the biomass of zooplankton, but also their energy density (calorific content), which directly affects the availability of larval fish and indeed other species and underpins the structure of the entire ecosystem. The combination of record-high mackerel biomass since the mid-2000s and declining prey quality and quantity may help explain why salmon survival at sea has fallen to historic lows. Today’s post-smolt feeding grounds are markedly less productive compared with earlier periods, when zooplankton were more energy-rich and plentiful. On top of this, the growth of large industrial pelagic fleets likely adds further pressure — not only through occasional salmon bycatch, but also by significantly altering food-web dynamics in these critical feeding areas. Management implications Fisheries: Without an agreed TAC, coastal states’ unilateral quotas have pushed catches well above ICES advice, averaging ~40% higher since 2010. This is now subject of agreed quotas but is still too large and is probably not controlled properly in international waters. Ecosystem: Heavy exploitation of prey resources by abundant pelagic fish (mackerel, herring, blue whiting) could reduce salmon growth and survival, with consequences for both wild populations and fisheries. Climate change: Continued warming is expected to reduce richness of resources, intensifying the competition. This is probably the largest challenge. Salmon from Ireland may now have to migrate further to gain sufficiant feeding. Conclusion The northward and westward expansion of mackerel is not just a fisheries management challenge but an ecosystem concern. The overlap of mackerel with salmon feeding areas, combined with declining zooplankton, provides a plausible mechanism for the observed collapse in salmon marine survival. Addressing this requires: Stronger international quota agreements to keep mackerel harvests within ICES advice. This may reduce Bycatch. Reporting of salmon in bycatch has been agreed but information must be relevant not just that salmon were taken. Location, weight, size and condition of fish should be reported. Integrated ecosystem monitoring of zooplankton, pelagic fish, and salmon. Recognition that salmon declines cannot be solved by freshwater measures alone — the marine ecosystem is central. In conclusion it must be accepted that we must do all we can to revitalise freshwater systems but the substantial effect of climatic change on ocean productivity may be largely responsible for declines. Directly- Change to ecosystem productivity. Indirectly- Expansion of valuable stocks of pelagics may have increased bycatch of salmon.
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Fish Counter Report and Update Blackwater
This issue contains a brief outline of the fish counter report for 2024 issued by Inland Fisheries Ireland as well as an update on Blackwater fish kill. We have strongly suggested that certain issues come to the forefront in regard to WWTP and Industrial discharges in all catchments and that climate resilience should be built into any existing discharge licenses. We have also highlighted the astonishing number of cattle in County Cork, with a considerable portion in the Blackwater valley. All these factors must be addressed before the long term future of the Blackwater can be put on a sound footing.
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Unprecedented Fish Kill – Munster Blackwater
The recent fish kill on the Munster Blackwater highlights just how fragile the habitats of salmon and trout truly are. These weakened ecosystems are highly vulnerable, and without decisive action, further incidents are inevitable. Although the exact cause has not yet been identified, the deteriorating condition of many rivers—particularly in regions of intensive agriculture and, most notably, dairy farming—has long been a matter of serious concern. This devastating event serves as yet another reminder that urgent steps must be taken to reduce human impact on our waterways. While the possibility of an acute pollution incident cannot be ruled out, it is vital that every potential source is thoroughly investigated, including industrial and municipal discharges. Moreover, the terms under which discharges to surface waters are permitted must be reconsidered in light of changing climatic conditions. In particular, the ability of rivers to assimilate pollutants during periods of low flow and warmer temperatures needs to be carefully assessed. Issue Number 19
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Newsletter Number 13 – 20 May 2025
This newsletter discusses the unique relationship between salmon and pearl mussel. It is in everyone's interest to know the link between these species and how we must keep habitat and water quality in a condition that supports vibrant stocks of both species. We also highlight the recent high temperatures and their potential effect on juvenile salmon. We have also provided a link to the Danish River Skyern and note that a declining trend in catches similar to UK and Ireland appears to be taking place.
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