Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment considering the large unexplained mortalities of 1,079+ sexually mature adult Atlantic salmon in the Ballysadare River, County Sligo in July 2024, how the rod angling harvestable quota can increase by nearly 300% for this calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14887/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Atlantic salmon conservation work at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is supported by independent scientific advice provided by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS). River-specific scientific catch advice on our salmon fisheries is provided by TEGOS based on a forecast of the abundance of salmon which will return to each river in that year, comparison of the estimated returns to the river-specific conservation limit, and determination of harvest of salmon which could be made while allowing a high probability (75%) that the Conservation Limit will be met.

IFI then formulate and transmit this advice to my Department which informs the publication of the relevant draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations for public consultation. On conclusion of this process, the Regulations are finalised and enacted in advance of the upcoming fishing season.

My officials have consulted with IFI on this matter who have advised that the annual harvestable quota advised for the Ballysadare salmon stock is primarily based on adult returns from the fish counter located there. The most recent preceding five-year period with available data is considered along with any angling harvest below the counter. The primary reason the rod angling quota increased in 2025 compared to 2024 was that the mean counter returns of the respective five-year periods used was greater for 2025 than 2024. The excess mortalities documented in 2024 were omitted from the counter returns and calculations used to determine the harvestable quota advised. In addition to this, for the 2025 catch advice, TEGOS applied a raising factor of 5% to the fish counter data to account for the relatively small number of fish that may bypass the counter. It should be noted that despite the fish kill, the returns of adult salmon to the river were good in 2024 and above the required conservation limit.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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149. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment under the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Bag Limits) Bye-Law No. 1013 of 2024, the number of salmon licences, either local or national, that a recreational angler may be in possession of in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14888/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Bag Limits) Bye-law No. 1013 of 2024 regulates the number of salmon or sea trout that a person shall take in 2025. Under this Bye-law, "a person shall not take by rod and line more than 10 fish in 2025, ‘’fish’’ meaning salmon (any size) or sea trout (over 40cm) or both’’.

The classes of fisheries licences are governed by the Inland Fisheries Acts 1959 to 2017. Section 66 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 sets out the classes of fisheries licences, and Section 67(5) provides that ‘A separate ordinary fishing licence shall be issued for each separate fishing engine’. The expression “salmon rod ordinary licence” means an ordinary fishing licence to fish with rod and line for salmon.

Whilst the Inland Fisheries Acts make no reference to the number of salmon fishing licences that a recreational angler may take out, each angler must have a separate ordinary fishing licence for each fishing engine in use and shall not take more than 10 fish in any year irrespective of the number of ordinary fishing licences taken out for that year.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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150. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to his Department producing a publication titled 'Towards a Policy Framework for Inland Fisheries in Ireland - A Roadmap' on 27 January 2021, why this policy initiative was a complete failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14889/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The development of a new policy statement for the inland fisheries sector is a significant and complex undertaking which will take account of developments and challenges around conservation, ecological and environmental issues over recent years. Significant progress has been made by my Department in its development. The policy statement will also have regard to ongoing initiatives such as the Inland Fisheries Ireland's (IFI) Corporate Planning process for 2026-2030. My intention is to submit the draft policy for public consultation this year and I look forward to doing so.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment given that, between 19 November and 18 December 2024, inclusive, his Department ran a public consultation on the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2024 and Conservation Measures for the 2025 Season, but that, less than twenty four hours after the consultation closed these regulations were signed into law on 19 December, whether the consultation was just a box ticking exercise for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14890/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Reply not received from Department.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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152. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment given that last year, the fish health unit of the Marine Institute identified the Aeromonas hydrophila bacterium in wild brown trout from Lough Corrib SAC, what measures his Department, and Inland Fisheries Ireland, will put in place to prevent the spread of this bacteria to other watercourses, particularly wild brown trout populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14891/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The prevention of the spread of bacteria such as Aeromonas Hydrophila in any fish species from one watercourse to another is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the Agency with statutory responsibility for the protection, conservation and development of the inland fisheries resource in Ireland. IFI has established a specific email address for queries from members of the Oireachtas so that queries in relation to operational matters can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards.

The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.