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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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Newsletter Issue Number 12 – 11 May 2025
This newsletter deals with two issues which are of concern to all who support salmon conservation in Ireland. The first topic discusses the recent report from Inland Fisheries Ireland relating to the GeneFlow project which seeks to record the extent of introgression by farmed salmon into Ireland's rivers. The second issue discusses and focusses on the disasterous MSW salmon run in 2025 which follows another poor year in 2024. We are asking that all stakeholders adopt a reasonable approach to safe guard the resource. While the commercial sector is opening on 12th May and is quota restricted, it may be time to restrict fishing periods for these fisheries. We contend that commercial fisheries are not consistent with a proper management of the salmon resource and should be discontinued going forward. We are asking all the angling community to think before exploiting salmon above 65cm and to restrict their harvest.
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Newsletter Number 11 -Salmon Farm – Concerns
Salmon Watch Ireland Newsletter Deenish Island Aquaculture Update Urgent Concerns Raised by Salmon Watch Ireland Licence Breach: Introduction of Pre-Adult Salmon The recent transfer of fish to the Deenish Island site appears to breach key conditions of the extant aquaculture licence (AQ199). The licence strictly permits the introduction of smolts only—juvenile salmon—up to a cap of 400,000. The recent stocking of 406,450 pre-adult salmon, each averaging 2.155 kg, appears to represent a clear breach of this stipulation. This information was provided on foot of a request for AIE (Access to Environmental Information) to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
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Ballisodare Report – Inland Fisheries Ireland
Salmon Watch Ireland welcomes the publishing of the report concerning the large scale mortality event on the Ballisodare River in June and July this year. While the report does not specifically identify a cause of the mortalities, it does outline a number of factors which may have impacted the adult salmon population. It is encouraging to see that mortalities have not occurred since higher water on the river became established on the 20th July. The issues surrounding fish passage do require attention and it is hoped that a practical approach to the issue can be put in place. It must always be remembered that this river without the fish passes at the lower falls and at Colooney would not be a salmon river as salmon could not pass the natural barriers at these locations until the passes were constructed. We would suggest that at all times the salmon are prioritised through a regime of facilitating free passage. To this end we suggest that IFI should examine the feasibility of mitigating further natural barriers upstream of the lower falls. In the interim we do see the benefit of managing access until a resolution can be found to alleviate stress factors above the lower falls. IFI Report
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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 ten recommendations which the Committee feels will serve to meaningfully address factors inhibiting the effective removal and mitigation of barriers in the Irish river network. Barriers Report 2024
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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 salmon and the presentation demonstrated that wild Atlantic salmon are returning earlier, returning at a smaller size and during a more concentrated time period. Survival from ova to smolt appears relatively stable with less than 1% survival but survival at sea has declined alarmingly. One interesting note is that since the closure of the drift net fishery there has been no increase in survival at sea indicating a substantial decline since 2007. The catchment continues to be below its conservation limit thus compromising the output of smolts from the catchment. The video is well worth watching and given its long term data is essential to our understanding of Atlantic salmon. Burishoole Video There are other video which you may find interesting and these can be viewed here. EPA Conference 2024
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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 adult salmon. This may be related to oxygen demand as the river appears to be low over a prolonged period. Larger fish require higher levels of oxygen and large quantities in a relatively small area of a river can trigger stress and lead to secondary infections. Higher water may alleviate this but weakened fish may not survive even if distributed further upstream. There appears to be a rise in water over the past number of days and we will see if this alleviates the situation. While there are reports of a large run through the counter it is apparent that the loss of adult salmon at this scale can have consequences for spawning numbers and that other adult salmon may have a compromised survival chance through stress related secondary infections. We would certainly support an engineering solution to natural barriers if these are deemed to be partly responsible for the mortalities.
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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 wild salmonids by salmon farms. The recent post from Alexandra Morton showing the effect bares a striking resemblance to this. The data source is the annual report of the Newport Research which is publicly available at the following link. Marine Institute Report There is a data set of both salmon and sea trout spanning back to 1970.
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