SOLVING THE mystery of salmon disappearing at sea received a substantial boost recently with a contribution of €200,000 from the Total Corporate Foundation (TCF). The funding will support Faroese marine surveys, writes Derek Evans
The foundation has a track record of supporting salmon-conservation in France, which includes a restoration programme on the River Loire run by Conservatoire National du Saumon Sauvage.
Despite a reduction in fishing at sea for wild salmon over the past 40 years, numbers have declined dramatically across the north Atlantic, according to Dr Peter Hutchinson of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (Nasco).
Stocks in southern Europe and the eastern seaboard of north America are critically endangered, and Nasco's best efforts, so far, have not worked. One possible reason for the decline is the increase in mortality at sea.
To address the problem, Nasco in 2005 adopted a €5.5 million project entitled Salsea (Salmon at Sea), an initiative that incorporates 20 public, private and NGO partners, which is investigating the decline.
Total Corporate Foundation has also contributed €50,000 to the Salsea programme in support of an international genetics workshop on agreeing protocols for identifying the origins of salmon caught at sea.
Nasco secretary, Dr Malcolm Windsor, says: "We have closed fisheries, introduced harvest restrictions and greatly improved habitat, yet the salmon are not responding. The funding from TCF is extremely important in carrying out this major programme of research."
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Seán Power, Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, recently launched a website and promotional material on Avoca, Co Wicklow. The website was developed as part of the Celtic Copper Heritage project and funded under the EU Interreg programme.
The project links the mining area of Avoca with Almwch in Wales and is managed by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board. Shareholders include Wicklow County Council, the Geological Survey of Ireland, Avoca Mining Heritage Trust and the Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland.
The treatment of mine-water entering the Avoca River was investigated by the Interreg project and involved the installation of a pilot water treatment facility. The results showed that the water could be successfully treated. (The Avoca River receives 35 litres of acid mine drainage per second.)
"I hope the information presented on the website will attract more people to come and enjoy the area of Avoca," the Minister said. See www.celtic-copper.eu
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Waterville Fisheries Development received a financial boost recently following the inaugural fly-fishing competition on Lough Currane in Co Kerry. By all accounts, the event was a resounding success, with 25 per cent of entry fees allocated to maintaining spawning beds and much-needed conservation works.
The competition was strictly catch-and- release, with a minimum size limit of 25cm. John Holstead took top honours, with five fish, to win a 19ft Davison Corrib Boat and a print of a spawning sea trout by marine artist Vincent Hyland.
Alan Hassett was second, with three sea- trout. Local ghillie Frank Donnelly caught the largest fish of 52cm. The gala dinner was held in the Butler Arms Hotel in Waterville. "We intend this fundraising competition to be an annual event," said angling manager John Murphy.