The Government's primary motivation is the conservation of the wild salmon species, which has long been regarded as one of Ireland's most prized fish. It is vital to afford every protection to the remaining salmon stocks and to clearly prioritise conservation over catch. The current imperative must be to maintain stocks above conservation limits or at the very least halt the observed decline.
I am advised that current scientific data has identified that 109 of the salmon rivers in the State are below their conservation limit and details of these are set out in the following table.
The draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2007 will set out the rivers on which rod angling may take place and the controls that will apply and I intend publishing these regulations later this week, following which, there will be a 30 day consultation period.
Under the Fisheries Acts, the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards are primarily responsible for the management and protection of fisheries including measures in relation to enforcement.
Rivers below their Conservation Limit
District
|
River Name
|
Dundalk
|
Dee
|
Dundalk
|
Flurry
|
Dundalk
|
Glyde
|
Drogheda
|
Boyne
|
Dublin
|
Dargle
|
Dublin
|
Liffey
|
Dublin
|
Vartry
|
Waterford
|
Barrow
|
Waterford
|
Clodiagh
|
Waterford
|
Colligan
|
Waterford
|
Corock R
|
Waterford
|
Lingaun
|
Waterford
|
Mahon
|
Waterford
|
Nore
|
Waterford
|
Owenduff
|
Waterford
|
Pollmounty
|
Waterford
|
Suir
|
Waterford
|
Tay
|
Wexford
|
Avoca
|
Wexford
|
Owenavorragh
|
Wexford
|
Slaney
|
Lismore
|
Bride
|
Lismore
|
Finisk
|
Lismore
|
Glenshelane
|
Lismore
|
Lickey
|
Lismore
|
Tourig
|
Lismore
|
Womanagh
|
Cork
|
Adrigole
|
Cork
|
Argideen
|
Cork
|
Glengarriff
|
Cork
|
Owennacurra
|
Cork
|
Owvane
|
Kerry
|
Behy
|
Kerry
|
Carhan
|
Kerry
|
Cloonee
|
Kerry
|
Cottoners
|
Kerry
|
Croanshagh (Glanmore R. and L.)
|
Kerry
|
Emlagh
|
Kerry
|
Emlaghmore
|
Kerry
|
Feohanagh
|
Kerry
|
Ferta
|
Kerry
|
Finnihy
|
Kerry
|
Inney
|
Kerry
|
Kealincha
|
Kerry
|
Lee
|
Kerry
|
Lough Fada
|
Kerry
|
Maine
|
Kerry
|
Milltown
|
Kerry
|
Owenascaul
|
Kerry
|
Owenreagh
|
Kerry
|
Owenshagh
|
Kerry
|
Sheen
|
Limerick
|
Annageeragh
|
Limerick
|
Aughyvackeen
|
Limerick
|
Brick
|
Limerick
|
Deel
|
Limerick
|
Doonbeg
|
Limerick
|
Fergus
|
Limerick
|
Galey
|
Limerick
|
Inagh
|
Limerick
|
Maigue
|
Limerick
|
Owenagarney
|
Limerick
|
Skivaleen
|
Galway
|
Aille (Galway)
|
Galway
|
Clarinbridge
|
Galway
|
Kilcolgan
|
Galway
|
Knock
|
Galway
|
Owenboliska R (Spiddal)
|
Connemara
|
L. Na Furnace
|
Ballinakill
|
Bunowen
|
Ballinakill
|
Carrownisky
|
Ballinakill
|
Culfin
|
Ballinakill
|
Dawros
|
Ballinakill
|
Owenwee (Belclare)
|
Bangor
|
Glenamoy
|
Bangor
|
Muingnabo
|
Bangor
|
Newport R. (Lough Beltra)
|
Bangor
|
Owengarve R.
|
Bangor
|
Srahmore (Burrishoole)
|
Ballina
|
Ballinglen
|
Ballina
|
Brusna
|
Ballina
|
Cloonaghmore (Palmerstown)
|
Ballina
|
Leaffony
|
Sligo
|
Garvogue (Bonnet)
|
Sligo
|
Grange
|
Ballyshannon
|
Abbey
|
Ballyshannon
|
Ballintra (Murvagh R).
|
Ballyshannon
|
Bungosteen
|
Ballyshannon
|
Erne
|
Ballyshannon
|
Eske
|
Ballyshannon
|
Laghy
|
Ballyshannon
|
Oily
|
Ballyshannon
|
Owenwee (Yellow R)
|
Letterkenny
|
Bracky
|
Letterkenny
|
Clonmany
|
Letterkenny
|
Culoort
|
Letterkenny
|
Donagh
|
Letterkenny
|
Glenagannon
|
Letterkenny
|
Glenna
|
Letterkenny
|
Gweedore (Crolly R.)
|
Letterkenny
|
Isle (Burn)
|
Letterkenny
|
Lackagh
|
Letterkenny
|
Leannan
|
Letterkenny
|
Mill
|
District
|
River Name
|
Letterkenny
|
Owenamarve
|
Letterkenny
|
Owentocker
|
Letterkenny
|
Ray
|
Letterkenny
|
Straid
|
Letterkenny
|
Swilly
|