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A rather unique and interesting point of view – Regenerating our salmon and rivers by Nicholas Grubb.
This article encompasses many aspects which Salmon Watch Ireland agree with especially the management of riparian zones. It is an interesting submission which should help to garner an understanding of the many issues prevalent in Ireland regarding the ecosystem management of our river systems. It is interesting to note that management is almost non existent on all our river systems. While ownership of fishery rights are by and large fragmented there is an onus on all interested parties to work together to put in place a professional fishery and ecosystem management system especially on our rivers which produce the majority of smolts. We would also suggest that barriers should be improved to allow easier migration but also agree that large deep water sections may be appropriate in certain rivers. A changing climate scenario is fast approaching and our rivers need sympathetic and ecosystem friendly approaches to improve or indeed protect salmonid productivity. This is a very thought provoking article and the author should be congratulated for his long time unique interest and activism in conservation matters. Dromana House - Lower Blackwater, County Waterford Read More
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Vincent Duigan – An Appreciation
The board and members of Salmon Watch Ireland wish to sympathise with the family and friends of Vincent Duigan who died unexpectedly in January this year. It came as a great shock to learn of his untimely death. Our association with Vincent was principally concerned with the plight of wild Atlantic salmon and his knowledge and enthusiasm was hugely beneficial to Salmon Watch in our endeavours to protect wild salmon. He was also a valued friend. For many years Vincent was involved with the Slaney River Trust, the very first such organisation in Ireland. With his engineering background, he was particularly interested in the operations of turbines and their damage to the migrating salmon and was at the forefront in trying to rehabilitate that great river. Vincent was instrumental in setting up the original South East Salmon Federation in 2003. This quickly led to the formation of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now in 2004. After the removal of drift net fishing at sea at the start of 2007, the organisation changed its name to Salmon Watch Ireland to be a voice for Atlantic salmon and Vincent had been a valuable board member all the way through. He fished all over Ireland but had a particular love of the Moy and his own beloved Slaney. He always spoke highly of all the great people he met along the waters of Ireland, and it is safe to say that his presence will be greatly missed by all his friends. The board and members of Salmon Watch will miss him greatly. Our sympathies to his sons Joe and Alan. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h'anam dílis
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Judicial Review – Update
The Judicial Review against the decision by the Aquaculture Licence Appeal Board to award a licence for a salmon farm at Shot Head is progressing well. While we do not as yet have a date for hearing a number of important issues have been dealt with. On the 29th November a request was put forward by Bradan Teo Fanad trading as MOWI Ireland to move the case to the Commercial Court for hearing. This was subsequently allowed by the presiding judge. We await further hearings on 02 February 2022. Proceedings dealt with by the Commercial Court must have a commercial dimension and generally must have a value of not less than €1m. MOWI Ireland are effectively claiming that they are at a loss which has a value in excess of €1m and thus their application to enter the commercial court. We will update you on a regular basis post 02 Feb 2022.
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Salmon Farming:Complaint to the Commission of the European Communities about the Government of Ireland’s failure to comply with Community law.
Subject of Complaint: Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, Ireland, hereafter referred to as the ‘Act’. Salmon Watch Ireland has launched a Complaint to the Commission of European Communities. This complaint focuses on Sections of the Fisheries Act 1997 which permits the continuation of salmon farm licences which have expired. This is certainly a situation whereby the provisions of the Habitats Directive and Environmental Impact Assessment Directive are not being applied by the Irish state and as such are in contravention of both Directives. The issue of access to justice without prohibitive cost is also being not applied and should be properly transposed into the Fisheries Act. Application of S. 19 (4), of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, Ireland. (The impugned section of the act permits the indefinite operation of marine open cage salmon farms, with expired licenses, pending licence renewal and thereby avoiding the application of the provisions of the Habitats Directive and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive). 2.Non-Transposition of Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 85/337/EEC 2011//92/EU. (The Act has not been amended to transpose Article 11 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; 85/337/EEC – 2011//92/EU, i.e. Arhus Convention Rights to information, participation, and access to justice without prohibitive cost in environmental decision making). The full text of the complaint is available here Complaint Text
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Annual General Meeting Salmon Watch Ireland 28th March – Cancellation
The Annual General Meeting of Salmon Watch Ireland which was due to be held on Saturday 28th March in the Maldron Hotel,Portlaoise has been postponed until further notice. We will notify you of the revised date for the AGM in due course and will be guided by the advice on meetings/gatherings from Government in that regard. Secretary Salmon Watch Ireland 20 March 2020
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Deenish Island – High Court Case 28th January
A very significant High Court Case involving MOWI (Marine Harvest) and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes place in Dublin commencing on the 28th January 2020. The case is being taken by MOWI against the Department to overturn the decision to discontinue the statutory entitlement of Silver King Seafoods Ltd. (a wholly owned Company of Comhlucht Iascaireachta Fanad Teoranta (MOWI Ireland)) to continue aquaculture operations under the provisions of Section 19(A)4 of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act Here under is a link to the submissions as presented to the Department and ALAB regarding our investigations into breaches of the licence. The information was harvested from the Department through Access to Environmental Information Legislation. https://salmonwatchireland.ie/…/deenish-island-salmon-watc…/ https://salmonwatchireland.ie/…/deenish-island-contradicto…/
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Artifishal – Patagonia Full Film
This film demonstrates how man through his interference with natural processes has greatly affected wild fish. Dams, fish farming and hatcheries have all had a devastating effect on wild salmon returns. Please watch and learn. You cannot replace wild fish. Artifishal Film - Full
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Atlantic salmon – A resource in decline
Salmon Watch Ireland has highlighted, since it's inception in 2004, the alarming decline of Atlantic salmon and sea trout in Ireland. Ireland's Atlantic Salmon resource is rapidly declining from the historic adult runs of up to 2 million fish in the 1970's to less than 250 thousand fish now reaching our shores.We are dedicated to the conservation of Atlantic salmon and Sea trout in Ireland and will endeavor to shape government policy to protect this iconic species. Atlantic salmon and sea trout: A resource declining https://youtu.be/ArUiOiIIaZ0
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Pink Salmon: Non-Native Fish Species Alert
Inland Fisheries Ireland has appealed to anglers and the general public to remain vigilant and report the presence of any Pacific pink salmon in Irish river systems. To date,…
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Marine Harvest – Smolts or Not
Smolt overstocking by Marine Harvest Hereunder find documentation regarding the gross over…
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