The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
Submission to the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine &
Natural Resources,
Re: Commercial Salmon fishing and Salmon Angling.
1
Introduction
1
The Shannon Fisheries Region is the largest salmon habitat in the country.
However according to the Quantification of the Freshwater Salmon Habitat
Asset in Ireland 2003 only 30% of the catchment is available to salmon. The
Regions salmon stocks are under serious threat. The reasons for the decline
are complex and due to a combination of factors - degradation of the fish
habitat, pollution, obstruction to the passage of fish including dams, over
exploitation at sea and inland, and the survival at sea.
2
The level of threat to the stocks varies greatly in the different tributary
catchments, in the River Feale and the Mulcair stocks remain relatively good,
while in the Maigue and Fergus systems stocks are fair, while in the Shannon
above Ardnacrusha stocks can only be described as very poor. The capture
of salmon has dropped from 55,953 in 1970 to 15,464 in 2000.
3
In addressing this issue the Board wishes to outline the main issues affecting
salmon stocks and suggest remedies which if acted upon would ensure the
return of healthy salmon stocks to the majority of our River catchments and
there after optimising the use of the surplus stock for the benefit of the
Regions communities including angling and commercial netting .
4
It should also be stated that the only way to successfully address the decline
in salmon stocks and manage their recovery is on a ‘catchment by catchment’
basis, as the present the system ‘one cap fits all’ will not work. While a clear
National Policy must be developed and given time to be implemented, local
stocks must be managed on catchment by catchment basis, ensuring that the
stocks are not impacted upon by other catchments.
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1
Habitat Protection
A pre-requisite to developing and maintaining a healthy stock of salmon is
healthy spawning and nursery areas. Over the last 30 years these areas
have been greatly impacted upon by pollution mainly arising from agriculture
and sewage waste disposal by Local Authorities. It has recently been
estimated by the W.F.D. Shannon River Basin District that 75% of the
Shannon catchment waters are at risk of habitat damage. The fish habitat
has also been greatly damaged through drainage, culverting, peat harvesting,
forestry and in more recent years by new road construction.
1
2
It is only in recent years that a serious attempt has been made to reduce
domestic sewage waste and commence tackling the agricultural waste
problems, but little has been done to address the habitat loss.
3
Nationally and internationally fishery rehabilitations programmes, which have
been scientifically assessed, demonstrate that juvenile salmon production
can be greatly enhanced, unfortunately resources have not been made
available to undertake this work in the Shannon Region.
4
The Board urges that the NASCO plan of action for the application of the
precautionary approach to protection and restoration of Atlantic Salmon
habitat be implemented and that resources be given to protect against habitat
loss.
3
1
Commercial Salmon Fishing
Within the Shannon Region a maximum of 192 commercial Drift and Draft net
salmon licences are available to be issued each year. The Region can be
divided into three distinct areas, Drift Nets offshore (Kerry Head to Hags
Head) with 52.5% of the commercial catch, Drift and Draft nets in the
Shannon Estuary with 34.6%, and Draft nets in the Feale / Inagh estuary with
12.8%.
Year
Coastal
Estuary
Feale
Inagh
Total
1998
5896
2865
1999
4711
4833
2000
9359
1761
2001
14581
8477
2002
11078
4833
2003
8140
4011
2004
5790
3864
668
9429
533
10077
544
11664
5644
28702
2820
18731
2037
14188
1538
11192
and
2
The economic importance of fishing varies from group to group, but even for
those who catch very few fish, there is a major heritage value put on the
fishing activity. The present value of the commercial catch is estimated to be
€400,000. It has been pointed out to the Board that salmon fishing should
not be taken in isolation and that the income received from the commercial
salmon fishing activity helps maintain a reasonable annual wage when other
fishing actives are take into account and assists in keeping people in the
more rural coastal areas.
3
In reviewing the catch figures it is apparent that 50% of the fishermen catch
less the 50 fish each. When one looks at the economic value of commercial
salmon fishing it is evident that it is becoming less and less economically
viable to fish. When one adds to this the present scientific advice the future
for commercial salmon fishing is in the balance.
2
Number of salmon caught per Licence
Licence
Type
CFO Drift
RS Drift
CFO Draft
RS Draft
Total
0
1 -10
11 -20
8
2
2
12
11
22
5
38
2
11
2
15
21 -50
1
19
13
9
42
51 - 100
2
23
8
2
35
101 - 250
2
7
1
251 - 500
7
501 - 1000
4
0
0
10
7
4
Total
Lic
Issued
16
70
57
20
163
4
In reviewing the present commercial salmon fishing situation and taking on
board current scientific advice, the Board has recommended that Drift nets
around the coast of Ireland be removed through buyouts.
5
The Board has had preliminary discussions with the offshore Drift net
fishermen who have indicated their willingness, at a reasonable cost, to be
bought out over a five year period. The Board has also had indications from
some of the remaining fishermen, inshore, that they would favour a voluntary
buy-out system, with the remaining fishermen considering what could be
described as a heritage licence, allowing them to fish in the traditional
manner for a small number of salmon.
4
Salmon Angling
1
The Shannon catchment was once renowned for its salmon angling
particularly around Castleconnell, where some of Ireland’s largest salmon
were caught. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. The reported catch of
salmon by anglers in 2004 was 650, however the Board estimates the real
figure at 1,500, with 1,999 salmon rod angling licences being sold.
2
Tourism angling is important to the Shannon Region with Intercom Report
2003 estimating the value of overseas salmon angling at €1 .26 million to the
Region. While salmon angling tourism is substantial, there is undoubtedly
major room for expansion, if the issues preventing salmon from occupying
our rivers were addressed. The Region has all the required infra-structure to
meet any increase in salmon angling numbers.
3
While salmon angling tourism is important to the Region, domestic angling is
also of significance with an approximate €3 million being spent annually by
local anglers. At a time when the nation seeks to provide more opportunities
for all, particularly the young, to get involved in more active leisure
opportunities, salmon angling and angling of all types should not be
overlooked.
3
4
5
6
Salmon angling within the Region is regulated at Club level with very few
active private fisheries. With the majority of the catchments fishing rights
controlled by the ESB there is a major opportunity, if salmon can be restored,
to develop a number of well managed fisheries catering for tourism and local
anglers alike. Opportunities also exist to work with the few private fishery
owners and Angling Clubs to develop tourism angling.
Survival at Sea
1
Over the past number of years growing information has been available from
the scientific community indicating that the salmon survival at sea has
declined and that this is impacting greatly on the numbers of salmon returning
to our rivers. The Board concurs with recent calls for additional resources to
be made available to research this area of the salmon’s life cycle. However,
our main focus should remain on those fish that do survive to return to our
coast, ensuring they have easy access through our rivers and lakes to their
spawning grounds and that a suitable habitat is available for them to develop
and return to the sea.
2
The Board is increasingly concerned at reports that salmon smolts are being
affected by the activities of the aquaculture industry and urges that as
sufficient information is now available action be taken to address this issue as
a matter of urgency.
3
Predation of salmon stocks by seals and cormorants also give rise for
concerns. The Board acknowledges the right of all animals to survive in the
wild, the intervention of man has changed the balance of our natural
environment and therefore intervention where required must be undertaken to
ensure that endangered species are also allowed to survive. There is
increasing evidence that both seal and cormorants are having an adverse
impact on salmon stock numbers while their numbers increase. The Board
recommends that action is taken to independently assess the present stocks
of cormorants and seals and if necessary take action to ensure that their
impact on salmon numbers is reduced.
ESB Fishery
1 The development in the 1930s of the ESB Hydro-dam at Ardnacrusha has
had a major impact on salmon stocks in the Shannon catchment. The
erection of the dam has basically cut the catchment in half with the numbers
of salmon dwindling over the last 75 years with only 839 wild salmon passing
upstream of Ardnacrusha during 2003. Overall in 2003, 1,904 fish were
counted at Ardnacrusha / Parteen counters, while 40 years previously in
1963, 23,322 fish were counted through Thomond Weir - a short distance
downstream. This salmon trap was closed down by the ESB in 1978
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2
The ESB have undertaken extensive stocking and research programmes
throughout the Shannon catchment down through the years, however without
a major impact on the regeneration of the salmon stocks in the Upper
Shannon.
3
While the Board appreciates the ESB’s primary function as one of generating
and transmitting electricity, they also have a duty to manage the natural
resource given to them by the State, this includes protecting the habitat of
salmon, protecting the downstream migration of smolts, and the upstream
migration of adult salmon, particularly adjacent to their dam. If the ESB in
reviewing its core business believe that these matters are best addressed by
another body then adequate resources must be made available by the ESB
to ensure that these responsibilities are met.
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Recommendations
1
The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board believes that the management of this
natural resource requires a clear national policy encompassing all of the
complex issues associated with it. The conservation and protection of the
salmon stocks themselves must be our first priority thereafter the coherent
management of the harvesting of the surplus stock.
To achieve this the Board make the following recommendations:
2
Based on scientific advice on a catchment by catchment basis a rebalancing
of the harvesting of salmon from offshore to inshore should be undertaken.
The Board recommends that Drift nets around the coast of Ireland be
removed through buyouts.
3
A voluntary buy-out system should also be available to the inshore fishermen,
with those wishing to remaining operating a heritage licence system
4
The manner in which the surplus salmon stock is exploited, either by rod &
line or commercial netting is, the Board belives, an issue for the local
consultation. However in referring to surplus stock the Board understands this
to mean that Nation-wide mixed stocked fisheries should cease and only
when the composition of the fish stock being fished is ascertained should
commercial fishing be undertaken.
5
Both tourist and domestic salmon angling opportunities should be substantial
enhanced.
6
The surplus salmon entering our river systems should be available for angling
and through the development of best practice managed salmon fisheries,
which would see the introduction of regulations and catch and release
policies which would assist in eliminating the excess capture by rod and line
of salmon.
5
7
At a time when the nation seeks to provide more opportunities for all,
particularly the young, to get involved in more active leisure pursuits, salmon
angling and angling of all types should be vigorously promoted.
8
The extension of the Boards’ enforcement programme to all areas,
particularly in the Limerick and Mulkear areas which should be adequately
resourced by the fishery owner the ESB.
9
10
The protection of spawning and nurseries of salmon habitats including the
elimination of pollution and the prevention of habitat degradation.
11
The development, implementation and resourcing of salmon habitat
restoration action plans based on the NASCO Plan of action for the
application of the Precautionary approach to Protection and Restoration of
Atlantic Salmon habitat.
12
The provision of adequate access for smolts downstream.
13
Provision of resources to adequately research and quantify sea mortality
including seal and cormorant impact and the implementation, if possible of
measures to alleviate these issues.
14
The development of a comprehensive catchment based salmon counter
programme to quantify more clearly returning salmon numbers.
15
Comprehensive independent scientific review of the obstacles to fish
movement fish upstream.
As can be seen the management of the salmon resource is complex and requires
to addressed in a holistic manner bearing in mind tradition and the best use of this
natural resource for the good of the community and survival of the salmon.
Yours sincerely,
____________________
Eamon Cusack
Chief Executive Officer
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