Salmon Fishing Blog
Restructuring Of Inland Fisheries
The establishment of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to replace the seventeen bodies - including the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards, the National Salmon Commission and the Fisheries Co-operative Societies - previously involved in the management of inland fisheries is the long-awaited signal that government is serious about protecting, conserving and developing this key resource.
Its CEO, Dr Ciaran Byrne, with his youthful energy, determination and vision - combined with a rare career skill set - is an assurance too that the revamped organisation is in capable hands and off to a good start. .....
What are the core functions of Inland Fisheries Ireland? These are set out in Section 7 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010 which gives IFI its authority. They are not significantly different from the core functions of the Central (CFB) and Regional Fisheries Boards (RFBs) - namely to promote, support, facilitate, and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. .....
What about illegal fishing? This is a problem. Like many other criminal activities it appears to be more prevalent during recessionary times as people, for primarily economic reasons, are more likely to "give it a go". Unfortunately, society does appear to have become more violent, and fisheries offences are often seen as "soft offences" which do not really hurt anyone especially when one compares them to the litany of offences that come before our district courts. We consider illegal fishing as an environmental crime and will not be tolerated.
Read the full article by Gerry Flynn at Inshore Ireland.
An Epic Migration (Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust)
At the Trust's Salmon and Trout Research Centre on the River Frome, near Wareham in Dorset, every spring, scientists catch and tag young salmon (smolts) as they swim down river and go out to sea through Poole Harbour.
For the first time we now have a record of a Frome fish on its epic migratory journey to the North Atlantic. On 6 October 2009 one of our fish was recorded at a Fish Market in Sisimuit on the west coast of Greenland. The fish was picked up during a sampling programme organised by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO). The fish was 67.9 cm in length and weighed 4.2 kg (about 9lb).
Read the rest of this article at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust. It makes for an interesting read and is new evidence of UK fish feeding off the coast of Greenland.
Fishing On The Blackwater Takes Off
The Blackwater Lodge beats revved up on the 13th of July with the best day of the season so far, plus the best catch from one beat in a Day. The river dropped to a lovely height with the morning at 0.23m and going down to 0.20m by nightfall.
There was an excellent run of fish coming through the entire system right through to the top beats. A total of 20 fish were caught for 11 rod days for the day. Beat 3 (1 mile up from the Lodge): 4 caught. 1 on fly. Best 9.7 & 11lb. Beat 7 (5 miles up from the Lodge): 4 caught. All on fly. Best 6.5lb. Beat 8 (15 miles up from the Lodge): 1 caught. 4lb. Beat 9 (20 miles up from the Lodge): 8 caught. 6 on fly & all released. Best 6lb. Beat 16 (26 miles up from the Lodge): 3 caught. 1 on fly. Best 6lb.
Two rods caught eight fish at Bridgetown Abbey, mostly grilse around the 3lb. mark. Six were caught on fly & two on spinner. All eight fish were released alive. Mick Kennedy caught 5 (best 6lb.) and Billy Jewitt caught three.
Prospects looking very good with fresh fish being taken right through to the top of the fishery. For all the very latest information please see the Blackwater Lodge Fishing Report.
Ireland is already home to over 100 alien animal and plants ??? and with the number rising, there is still no legislation to control their importation which will be a major threat to biodiversity if they escape into the Irish environment.
To most people these alien species often look relatively innocent, but their environmental and economic impact can be enormous. Once settled and reproducing, alien species are said to be 'invasive' species. Worldwide, the estimated cost per year of attempted eradication is $1.4 trillion. That figure equates to 5% of the entire global economy!
Fifty cruise liners are expected into Cork harbour this year, signaling a steady growth in this sector. Huge damage is already being done to Ireland's inland waterways by the likes of the Curly leaved waterweed (Lagarosiphon) and the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena). Parts of Lough Corrib are now so choked by densely growing Lagarosiphon that they have become 'no-go areas' for boats.....
Read the story in full at Inshore Ireland.
