Ireland’s inland fishery authorities are committed to using the most accurate available data and internationally accepted methodologies to inform decision making. In this regard, while Inland Fisheries Ireland is the Statutory body responsible for the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource, it is supported in Salmon fisheries assessment by the Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon (SSCS) which includes fisheries scientists from IFI, the Marine Institute, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Loughs Agency, and the Agriculture, Food and Biosciences Institute for Northern Ireland (AFBINI). Although the scientists are drawn from these agencies, the advice from the SSCS is independent of the parent agencies.
The SSCS annually carry out an assessment of salmon stocks on a catchment by catchment basis using internationally accepted best scientific practice to ascertain whether conservation limits are being or likely to be attained on an individual river basis. The SSCS provide advice to IFI, who are responsible for the management and conservation of these stocks.
I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland that fish counter data and rod/net catch data (in-river or estuarine measures) of salmon abundance are used by the SSCS to provide a primary measure of spawning stocks and attainment of individual river conservation limits.
With the operation of fisheries restricted to estuaries and rivers, following the Government decision to close mixed stock fisheries at sea from 2007, the SSCS assessment is now focused primarily on estimating individual river returns from catch data, counter data and ranges of rod catch exploitation rates derived from observed values in Irish rivers in recent years. The catch statistics derived from estuarine commercial fisheries are an important source of quantitative information for the SSCS, particularly in determining the attainment of individual river Conservation Limits. Following implementation of the wild salmon and sea trout tagging scheme which commenced in 2001, the catch data are derived from the logbook returns of commercial fishermen and recreational anglers.
Data are available to the SSCS from 32 fish counters for the 2014 – 2015 assessments, an increase of 11 counters on the 2011 – 2012 assessment. Information on juvenile abundance indices derived from electro-fishing surveys carried out annually by IFI is also examined to indicate stock status. Juvenile abundance data is used primarily where new information has not been available for rod catches where rivers may be closed to exploitation.
The information set out above is very comprehensive and is collected annually, where available, for all 143 salmon rivers in Ireland. The SSCS use the most recent five years of data and not a once annual count to forecast the run of salmon in the following year and to formulate advice to IFI on any surplus available over the conservation limit of each individual river. This is done to take account of any extremes in conditions such as droughts and floods, and to avoid large short-term fluctuations in predicted salmon returns in the annual scientific advice.
In circumstances where the number of anglers is reduced over recent years, for rivers where rod catch is the primary means of salmon stock assessment, a rod exploitation rate is applied to the reported rod catch for each river. If the number of anglers has reduced, for example, due to catch and release angling, a lower rod exploitation rate is applied in that instance.
For the majority of salmon rivers, the reported rod catch is used in conjunction with rod exploitation rates over the previous five years to estimate the size of salmon runs and predict the run in the following year. Rod exploitation rates used are derived from fish counters where the total salmon run is known and the also percentage of the run that is taken by anglers (i.e. the exploitation rate).
Ireland’s wild salmon management regime, including the work of the SSCS, is very well regarded internationally with delegations from a number of countries visiting in recent years to study and learn from our management system now regularly viewed as best international practice. The management structure is also well regarded within the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO).
With regard to the survival of salmon after catch and release, a recent study on three Irish rivers (Gargan et al. 2015) has shown that, when conducted using proper guidelines, survival of salmon after C&R can be high. Opening rivers to C&R angling provides an important tool to assist data collection on salmon stock status while not significantly impacting on salmon survival.
Currently, rod catches and commercial catches (if a commercial fishery operates) are used to determine the status of salmon stocks on the Barrow, Nore and Suir rivers. Use of rod catch, in conjunction with a range of exploitation rates, is the primary index of salmon stock status on the great majority of Irish rivers. IFI are currently investigating the possibility of installing a fish counter on the river Barrow for salmon stock assessment. This process will depend on locating a suitable site and securing the necessary planning and other relevant permissions.
Ireland’s Eel Management Plan (EMP) was accepted by the EU in 2009 under the EC Regulation (EC No. 1100/2007). I am advised by IFI that a close link between the management actions in Ireland’s EMP and eel-stock targets has been established by implementing a comprehensive monitoring and stock assessment programme. This will allow for a direct feedback to management based on response of the stock to management actions.
Each year, eel stocks are assessed in a national monitoring programme. This involves assessment of juvenile eel (glass eels or elvers), maturing eel (yellow eels) and mature eels on their migration to sea (silver eels). Monitoring of recruitment is critical to evaluating the overall success of the eel regulation and is required by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) for international stock assessment. This information is also required to assess and model changes in the future eel stocks in Ireland.
The EMP was reviewed in 2012 with scientific advice from the statutorily independent Standing Scientific Committee on Eels (SSCE). This review included a robust public consultation during which many issues were raised and considered. Full details of the scientific assessment and outputs of the public consultation are available on the IFI web site.
The actions set out above under the National Eel Monitoring Programme constitute a comprehensive assessment of eel stock status in Ireland and are reported to the EU on a three yearly basis to comply with Ireland's obligations under the EC Regulation (EC No. 1100/2007) for the recovery of eel stocks.
