Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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258. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that Inland Fisheries Ireland maintains a catch and release policy for salmon angling on the River Suir for the 2025 season, in light of stakeholder concerns that a full closure would have significant negative consequences for conservation, local angling clubs, tourism, and rural economies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62111/25]

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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In setting out annual fisheries legislation regarding salmon management, the Department and I consistently act in line with Government policy that salmon management is aligned with scientific advice.

The annual Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations, which come into operation on 1 January each year (following a public consultation process), sets out the status of each of Ireland ‘s more than 140 salmon rivers - including the River Suir - as open, open to catch and release or closed to harvest. These regulations are based on the annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) supported by independent annual scientific assessments by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) on the basis that each river has a genetically unique stock.

Currently, IFI is analysing the latest scientific advice from TEGOS which will be transmitted onwards to the Department in due course. The results of the stock assessment and associated catch advice for the 2026 season to be provided for in the draft Regulations is expected to be available for public consultation in mid-November 2025. The public consultation process will be conducted and advertised by the Department and will be open for 30 days to allow for stakeholder review and feedback during this period.

As per the established process, I intend to make and finalise these Regulations relating to the 2026 season after the consultation process has ended in December.