A COMMERCIAL pilot salmon fishery for Castlemaine Harbour Special Area of Conservation in Co Kerry has been proposed by the Minister of State for Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Conor Lenihan.
Speaking to local fishermen in Cromane Community Centre, the Minister said he had sought details from the fisheries boards as to how a commercial fishery could be managed in a sustainable manner.
“It is important that stocks are not over-exploited while at the same time maximizing the opportunities for commercial fishing,” he said.
Under Section 18 of the Fisheries Act 1980, a pilot fishery will be permitted in a particular area of Castlemaine Harbour to determine how a fishery could be operated, making the most of opportunities for commercial fishing while ensuring that at-risk stocks and surplus salmon are not over-exploited.
The pilot fishery will identify the proportion of salmon in catches from the Laune, Maine and other rivers entering Castlemaine. In addition, genetic analysis of salmon from the Behy and Emlagh rivers will confirm if stocks are discrete from stocks in other rivers.
A detailed management plan including protocols for the operation of the pilot fishery will be drafted in consultation with the South Western Regional Fisheries Board and Cromane fishermen.
“Results from this analysis will inform commercial and recreational stakeholders on where a commercial fishery might operate in the estuary while safeguarding spawning requirements of stocks,” the Minister said.
Salmon Watch Ireland says it is concerned that the Minister is to licence draft net fishing for salmon in Castlemaine Harbour for research purposes.
“‘If this is a scientific initiative confined to 2010, limited to 800 salmon and under the control of the fisheries boards and Marine Institute, then important information may be gained. If, however, it is a disguised means of reintroducing mixed stock fishing for salmon in Castlemaine Harbour then it will be a breach not only of Government policy to end such fishing, adopted in 2006, but also of Ireland’s obligations under the EU Habitats Directive and to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation,” Salmon Watch said in a statement.
The Minister will be aware that salmon stocks in many rivers flowing into Castlemaine Harbour are under severe stress already and unable to bear the burden of mixed stock exploitation.
Salmon Watch Ireland says it is monitoring the situation and called on the Minister to include representatives of the Kerry Angling Federation, for reasons of transparency, to be included in the Marine Institute, fisheries boards and commercial fishery interests group that is to draw up details of the scheme.
Local angler Patsy McHugh got the surprise of a life when casting a bubble and fly on the River Foyle above Lifford Bridge in Co Donegal. Up came a monster salmon to grab the fly and take off at breathtaking speed across the river.
Following a mammoth struggle he managed to land what turned out to be the largest recorded salmon in decades. The enormous fish weighed 15.1kg (33.25lb), had a girth of 24 inches and length of 42 inches.
The Loughs Agency later said the fish had left the river as a two-year-old smolt and spent three winters at sea.
Watch out for upcoming TV series on fly fishing. Setanta Ireland has commissioned a series of six programmes, each one dedicated to fly fishing for different species of fish. The first programme on mayfly was shot last week on Lough Corrib.
Based at Lal Faherty’s Angling Centre in Oughterard in Co Galway, I was cast in the role of teaching Michelin-star chef Kevin Thornton of the eponymous restaurant on Stephen’s Green, the art of fly fishing for trout.
Conditions for dry fly or dapping were far from ideal, with clear blue skies and northerly winds. However, picking fresh and spent mayfly from the bushes on Malachy’s Island proved exciting.
Remaining programmes will probably include salmon, pike, bass, mullet, rainbows and possibly shark.
angling@irishtimes.com