Dr. Cathal Gallagher:

Ireland has been leading the way in salmon management compared to many other European countries. Each year, we assess the salmon population entering 148 rivers. In Ireland, we manage each of the catchments individually but not the individual tributaries. Those above surplus are opened for commercial or rod-angling exploitation. Other rivers that are just below the conservation limit but have a certain population are open to catch-and-release angling. There are many rivers that are closed, unfortunately, because of the status of stock in them.

We pay attention to tributaries. If a river is in difficulty, we have other scientific methods of evaluating their populations. We use catchment wide electro-fishing where we examine the juvenile salmon in a catchment to see how its population is doing. If we find there are problems in tributaries or particular locations, we try and identify them such as an impassable barrier, pollution, problems arising from river restoration or gravels. The salmon conservation fund, supported by the salmon anglers and commercial fishermen, is available to do these types of rehabilitation works.

There has been a focus on better understanding the salmon runs in the Blackwater. On that river over the past several years, extensions to the salmon season have been given to facilitate angling because it was believed they were entering the catchments later. Salmon management is difficult. Each individual catchment has genetically distinct fish populations from the Ice Age. While we can talk in general terms about the populations going up and down, they seem to fluctuate inside the catchments over years. Salmon runs also depend on the weather and water levels, a point understood by those who live in the catchment area. We are conscious that the tributaries are the main spawning areas for salmon. We try to focus on ensuring we pay attention to these areas.