Regulations for salmon and trout fisheries approved by Minister

The Minister of State for Natural Resources, Joe McHugh, has approved a suite of regulations and bylaws that will govern the wild salmon and sea trout fisheries in 2015.

Out of 145 rivers assessed, 55 will be fully open and a further 28 will open on a catch and release basis. However, 62 will remain closed as they have no surplus of fish available for harvest.

The following is a summary of the river management changes. The Leannan (Letterkenny), closed in 2014, will open for catch and release. Four rivers – the Nore (Waterford), Mulkear (Limerick), Eske and Eany (Donegal) – which were open, will be catch and release.

The Ferta (Kerry) will fully open for harvest. Finally, six rivers which were open for catch and release will close. They are: Kealincha and Lough Fada (Kerry), Owenagarney (Limerick), L Na Furnace (Connemara), Owenwee (Ballyshannon) and Bracky (Letterkenny).

The management advice was based on the status of stocks carried out by the independent Standing Scientific Committee on salmon, comprising scientists from IFI, BIM, Marine Institute, Loughs Agency, National Parks and Wildlife Service, (AFBI-NI), NGOs and third-level institutions.

“In 2012 the cost of fishing licences was reduced in the prevailing economic climate and I have decided to maintain that price cut for 2015,” the Minister said.

Captured on live watercam The Atlantic Salmon Trust has joined forces with Farson Digital Watercams to bring live pictures of rivers in Ireland and UK to followers of salmon and trout. Presently, there are 120 cameras in prime locations overlooking sections of salmon and trout rivers.

It is planned to increase the number of watercams to more than 200 and, before the end of 2015, going abroad to bring live pictures of rivers in some of the wild Atlantic salmon countries of the North Atlantic seaboard.

In addition to real-time pictures, the site offers weather forecasts, flood warnings and a wealth of data on temperature, rainfall and river levels. Soon all will be accompanied by catch information.

Why not join the growing network of live views on some of our most beautiful rivers, while at the same time contributing 25 per cent of the subscription to salmon conservation projects?

Improved pictures with current and historical data will give access to more than 120 cameras and the information needed to enjoy your favourite river. The package is charged at an annual subscription of €22/£18. To sign up, go to http://farsondigital watercams.com/pages/ atlanticsalmontrust

Waiting for first salmon At the time of writing, we still await the first salmon of the new angling season. Traditionally, the River Drowes in the northern region achieves this honour on opening day (January 1st) with the River Liffey less fortunate, perhaps because of, initially, closure, and now catch and release, resulting in less angling pressure.

But it’s the Drowes that can claim a 90 per cent-plus success rate in this category. The river is just five miles long, yet on opening day can attract upwards of 150 anglers, all eager to catch the first fish of the season.

However, given the conditions, described by Drowes proprietor Shane Gallagher as “pretty good”, it is unusual for a salmon not to be tempted by a juicy worm, Flying C or fly on opening day. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times. On a brighter note, a fish was lost on Monday last in the Mill Pool.

It was a similar story at Islandbridge on the Liffey. The dawn gathering of the Dublin Salmon Anglers’ Association members for New Year celebrations saw a few anglers wet a line but to no avail. The best on offer fell to Ian Ferris, a brownie on a salmon fly, which was safely returned.

Atlantic Salmon Trust report The 2014 report from the Atlantic Salmon Trust makes dismal reading. “There is no point in concealing the hard truth that the wild Atlantic salmon is in danger of extinction, at the very least in their southern range. Already the species is virtually extinct from USA. In the 1970s, Bay of Fundy rivers in Canada had runs of 40,000 salmon annually: they now have less than 200.” Full report next week. angling@irishtimes.com