There are many factors affecting salmon and eel stocks generally. The current salmon status of the river Slaney is based on the information provided by the Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon (SSCS) and the advice and proposals provided by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to me as Minister. In contemplation of the 2017 fishing year, three scientific assessments of the salmon stock status on the river Slaney were undertaken based on recent fish counter data, rod catch data, and catchment-wide electro-fishing data. All three assessments indicate that the Slaney is not meeting conservation limits for both one sea winter or multi sea winter salmon stocks. Commercial fishing is only permitted where a surplus off salmon has been identified.
I am also advised by IFI that, in relation to potential restocking of salmon, there are significant genetic and ecological concerns when the progeny of wild salmon reared in a hatchery environment are released back into the wild.
As regards eels, Ireland’s Eel Management Plan (EMP) under EU Regulation 1100/2007, which included a closure of commercial fishing, was approved by the European Commission in 2009. Ireland's EMP and its conservation measures were reviewed in 2012 and in 2015, in accordance with the EU Regulation. Both reviews involved an examination of the latest scientific data and the conservation measures, the results of which were the subject of public consultations.
IFI have been provided funding for a new collaborative research initiative involving IFI scientists and a number of former eel fishermen to further develop national knowledge of the species and its medium to longer term potential for recovery ahead of a further review of eel management measures in 2018. This scientific fishery was commenced in 2016 and is expected to continue for three years to increase data and knowledge. The initiative also includes research on the Slaney.
Stocking is not included as a management action in Ireland’s Eel Management Plan due to risks such as the potential transfer of pathogens from elvers from other countries and the fact that surplus elver recruits were not identified in Ireland for the 2012-2015 period to facilitate a stocking programme.
