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Salmon Watch Ireland Annual Conference – Athlone 2026
Dear Supporter, We are delighted to invite you to the Salmon Watch Ireland Annual Conference, taking place on Saturday, 14 November 2026 at the Sheraton Athlone Hotel. This year’s conference brings together scientists, fisheries professionals, environmental organisations and those working directly on our rivers to examine the challenges facing Ireland’s wild Atlantic salmon and the practical measures needed to support their recovery. The programme will explore Ireland’s National Salmonid Index Catchment on the River Erriff, providing an insight into the long-term monitoring and research used to understand changes in our salmon and sea-trout populations. Other topics include water quality and agriculture, river barriers and restoration, the genetic impacts of farmed salmon escapes, and the Munster Blackwater fish kill one year on. We will hear about the latest science, progress with practical restoration measures and first-hand experience of the pressures affecting our rivers and fisheries. At a critical time for the Atlantic salmon, the conference will bring together science, experience and practical solutions and consider what more can be done to protect and restore Ireland’s wild salmon and the rivers upon which they depend. Please see the conference programme for full details. Conference Link We hope you can join us in Athlone on 14 November.
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Newsletter Number 46 – What Ireland’s Fish Counters are Telling Us
Dear Supporter, Please find attached Newsletter 46, in which we take a detailed look at Inland Fisheries Ireland’s latest fish-counter data and what the results tell us about the changing fortunes of Ireland’s wild salmon and sea trout. The five-year comparison presents a mixed picture. There are encouraging signs on rivers such as the Feale, Eske and Kerry Blackwater, while the exceptionally poor result from the Lackagh and the continuing weakness of salmon returns to the Erriff underline the seriousness of the challenges facing many stocks. We also look more closely at the Erriff sea-trout population and salmon farming in Killary Harbour. Combining counter results with IFI tagging and telemetry studies and Marine Institute sea-lice monitoring provides important evidence of the relationship between farm conditions, lice pressure and wild sea-trout survival. The increase from 844 sea trout in 2023 to 1,356 in 2024 and 2,089 in 2025 is particularly noteworthy. The newsletter also highlights the encouraging performance of the Feale, where catch-and-release and the absence of commercial exploitation are allowing more returning salmon the opportunity to reach the spawning grounds. Finally, we consider the continuing gaps in Ireland’s fish-counter network, particularly at Waterville/Currane, and why reliable long-term monitoring must be central to future salmon conservation. We hope you find the newsletter informative and, as always, welcome your comments and observations. Newsletter Number 46 - 2025 Consolidated Fish Counter Report
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Newsletter Number 45 -every fish counts
Dear Supporter, Our latest Salmon Watch Ireland Newsletter is now available. In this edition, we update you on our appeal against the renewal of the Deenish Island salmon farm licence, remind anglers of mandatory catch and release from 1 September following a particularly difficult summer for salmon, provide an update on the Munster Blackwater genetic study, and remind everyone to remain vigilant and report pollution through our Pollution Reporting Portal. We also ask you to save the date – Saturday, 14 November 2026 – for the Salmon Watch Ireland Conference in Athlone. Thank you, as always, for your continued interest and support for the conservation of Ireland's wild Atlantic salmon. Newsletter Number 45- Salmon Watch Ireland Aug 30
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Newsletter Number 44 – Section 19 A4 to be repealed
Our latest Salmon Watch Ireland newsletter marks an important development in a campaign we began six years ago. In 2020, Salmon Watch Ireland made a formal complaint to the European Commission concerning Ireland's aquaculture licensing system and the continued operation of aquaculture facilities after their licences had expired under Section 19A. The Government has now published the Draft General Scheme of the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2026, which proposes the repeal of Section 19A(4). This is an important achievement and a significant outcome from the European process which followed our complaint. However, as our newsletter explains, repeal is only part of the story. The proposed legislation would introduce a new system of temporary licence extensions, and we believe important safeguards are still required. In Newsletter 44, we examine the new proposals and explain why previous production performance, mortalities, disease, sea lice, escapes and licence breaches must be considered before further operation is permitted. We also address the need for public scrutiny, meaningful environmental assessment, effective appeals, stronger enforcement and financial bonds to ensure operators—not the taxpayer—carry responsibility for environmental liabilities. We also reiterate our fundamental policy position: open-cage finfish farming is environmentally unsustainable and Ireland should begin a planned transition to land-based closed containment. After six years of pursuing this issue, the proposed repeal of Section 19A(4) demonstrates that persistent engagement with Irish and European institutions can produce meaningful change. But the work is not finished. We will continue to engage as the legislation progresses to ensure that what replaces Section 19A(4) provides genuine protection for wild Atlantic salmon, sea trout and the wider aquatic environment. We hope you will take the time to read Newsletter 44 – Six Years of Persistence: Salmon Watch Ireland's Section 19A Campaign Reaches a Critical Point. Newsletter Number 44 - Section 19 Repeal
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Newsletter Number 42 – Temperature Protocol / Information Commissioner / Joint Oireactas
This edition focuses on a number of important developments affecting wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout, including Inland Fisheries Ireland's new scientific guidance on managing fisheries during periods of high water temperature and the increasing challenges posed by climate change. We also provide an update on our recent engagement with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs and the Joint Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy where we highlighted concerns regarding exceptionally high mortality rates in Ireland's salmon farming industry and the need for greater transparency. Finally, we report on our successful appeal to the Office of the Information Commissioner, which resulted in the release of previously withheld salmon farm mortality, stocking and harvest data. We outline the significance of this decision and the further steps Salmon Watch Ireland has taken to improve transparency and public participation in aquaculture licensing. As always, thank you for your continued support. Working together, we can continue to advocate for evidence-based policies that protect and restore Ireland's wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout.
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NASCO Conference 2026 – Aviemore, Scotland
This year's meeting took place against a backdrop of continuing declines in wild Atlantic salmon populations across much of the North Atlantic. Governments, Indigenous Peoples' representatives, NGOs, scientists, and fisheries managers gathered to review the latest scientific advice, assess conservation progress, and consider the actions needed to reverse these troubling trends. The newsletter highlights several significant developments from the meeting, including: The introduction of Conservation Commitment Reports (CCRs) and NASCO's new accountability framework; Adoption of new habitat protection, restoration, and improvement guidance; Continued concerns regarding climate change and declining salmon abundance; The ongoing impacts of aquaculture on wild salmon populations; Growing recognition of marine mortality and fisheries bycatch as major conservation challenges; The failure of the West Greenland Commission to agree a new regulatory measure for the 2026 fishery; and The priorities and concerns raised by accredited NGOs during the meeting. While important progress was made, particularly in habitat restoration and conservation planning, the meeting also underscored the urgency of the challenges facing wild Atlantic salmon. The discussions reinforced the need for stronger international cooperation, greater ambition in conservation actions, and increased attention to the pressures salmon face throughout their marine migration. We hope this newsletter provides a useful overview of the meeting and contributes to ongoing discussions about the future of wild Atlantic salmon conservation. As always, we welcome your feedback and look forward to continuing to work together to secure a future for this iconic species across the North Atlantic. Newsletter Number 39 - Salmon Watch Ireland NASCO Conference Scotland June 26
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Salmon Aquaculture – History and Information Resource
Salmon Watch Ireland has recently published its latest newsletter examining the relationship between salmon aquaculture and the future of wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout in Ireland. The newsletter outlines key issues currently being discussed in Ireland and internationally, including sea lice, disease risks, regulatory oversight, and the wider environmental debate surrounding open-net salmon farming in coastal waters. It also highlights the potential implications for wild salmonid populations that migrate through areas where aquaculture operations are located. We are sharing this publication as an information resource for the public and for anyone interested in the science, policy and environmental questions surrounding salmon aquaculture in Ireland. Further background information and related resources are also available on the Salmon Watch Ireland website: https://salmonwatchireland.ie/salmon-farming-ireland/ Please feel free to share this with colleagues or anyone who may have an interest in the future of wild salmon and sea trout.
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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 cycle, from reduced ocean productivity to chronically low spawning escapement in freshwater.
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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 Not Achieved • Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive requires no reasonable scientific doubt of no adverse effects on SACs—this threshold is not met. • Article 6(4) cannot apply: no imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI) exist. • Under the WFD, any deterioration of High-Status waters is unlawful outside narrow exceptions that are not invoked here. • Irish case law (Connelly, Kelly, SWI v ALAB) confirms that consent cannot be granted where scientific uncertainty persists. Full Text Here
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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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