• Catchment-wide electro fishing enables the assessment of the Success stories from 2008 attainment of Salmon Conservation Limit in closed rivers. This has led to more rivers being opened for catch and release to On the River Avoca in the Eastern Region a weir was constructed The Central and Regional provide more data to assess salmon stocks, e.g. The Rivers Maine with boulders for the purpose of trapping smolts during low river levels. Fish were transported downstream by road and released Northern Regional and Inney in Kerry District, Glenamoy River in Bangor District. Fisheries Board Fisheries Boards PIT / Radio Tag experiments enable the assessment of full back into the river 4km downstream of main discharge. These North Western Regional • Fisheries Board salmon runs where only partial counts exist, e.g. Lough Corrib. works have virtually eliminated fish kills during the smolt run. Conservation stamp funds were collected again in 2008 for salmon The spawning beds on the upper Screebe River had been neglected rehabilitation projects, with funds available for distribution to new for about twenty years. The beds were all compacted and overgrown projects in early 2009. For 2009 the following works are proposed; with weed. The spawning beds were raked, weed removed and gravel introduced where required. A total of 327 salmon migrated Central Fisheries Board upstream to the spawning beds. Eastern Regional • Improvements to fish passages to allow upstream movement of Western Regional Fisheries Board salmon. Fisheries Board 950 metres of River bank have been stabilised on the Glenamoy • Improvements to weirs and spawning beds. Shannon Regional River. The movement of gravel has been halted and 8 new salmon Fisheries Board • Installation of fish counter to River Fergus along with CCTV monitoring. holding pools have been created. • Further protection and restoration of river banks. • Continuation of the catchment-wide electro fishing programme. Southern Regional • Using PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder) tags to assess full Fisheries Board salmon runs where only partial counters exist. • Biological assessment of salmon populations. South Western Regional Fisheries Board Projects were undertaken at the above locations on the map indicated in white Central & Regional Fisheries Boards contact details. The Central Fisheries Board The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board Swords Business Campus, Ashbourne Business Park, Swords, Dock Road, Co. Dublin. Limerick, Web: www.cfb.ie Web: www.shrfb.ie Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Tel: 01 8842600 Tel: 061 300238 The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board The Western Regional Fisheries Board 15a Main Street, The Weir Lodge, Blackrock, Earl’s Island, Co. Dublin. Galway, Web: www.fishingireland.net Web: www.wrfb.ie Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Bank erosion widens the channel and causes siltation Salmon spawning in a typical spawning area Tel: 01 2787022 Tel: 091 563118 The Southern Regional Fisheries Board The North Western Regional Fisheries Board Angelsea Street, Ardnaree House, • The Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund represents a major Clonmel, Abbey Street, 2007 Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund contribution by licence holders to wild salmon conservation. Co. Tipperary, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Web: www.srfb.ie Web: www.northwestfisheries.ie • Monies are used to fund salmon river rehabilitation in various Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 5.88% River bank protection locations throughout the country. Tel: 052 6180055 Tel: 096 22788 2.94% • The Regional Fisheries Boards are implementing projects on the The Northern Regional Fisheries Board 8.82% Spawning ground creation The South Western Regional Fisheries Board The purchase by salmon licence holders Sunnyside House, Station Road, 38.24% ground. Macroom, Ballyshannon, Instream works 8.82% • The funding is coordinated by the Central Fisheries Board. Co. Cork, Co. Donegal, of a Salmon Conservation Stamp Web: www.swrfb.com Web: www.nrfb.ie Weirs and pools rehabilitated • Value for money is assured and the Wild Salmon population E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] refers a major contribution to salmon benefits substantially. Tel: 026 41221 Tel: 071 9851435 Fish pass 35.29% conservation. Removal of trees /overgrowth This document can be made available in alternate formats on request. Introduction mixed stock interceptory fishery at sea and the closure to Funding allocated in 2007-2008. recreational angling on all salmon rivers deemed to be below The ‘Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund’ is generated from Central Fisheries Board Catchment wide electro fishing. conservation limit. Rivers meeting between 65% and 100% 200,000 the sale of angling and commercial salmon licences. It RFB Districts PIT / Radio tag experiments. of the conservation limit were opened on a catch and release was established in December 2006 as a means of funding Eastern Region Spawning grounds created/ basis only. The Government’s main reason for adopting the a programme for the rehabilitation of salmon rivers. The rehabilitated, trees and 2,000 report was to conserve our endangered wild salmon stocks. River Liffey obstacles removed. Fund represents a major contribution by licence holders The Salmon has long been regarded as one of Ireland’s most River Mattock River bank protection. 20,000 to wild salmon conservation. The Central Fisheries Board prized fish and valued as a cultural and economic resource. Spawning grounds created/ Dundalk District* 23,000 (CFB) was tasked by the Department of Communications, rehabilitated. Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) with co-ordinating Spawning grounds created/ Conservation Limit River Vartry 1,500 the funding and the Regional Fisheries Boards were tasked rehabilitated. with implementing projects on the ground. There are 148 A ‘conservation limit’ is the number of spawning salmon River Bann River rehabilitation works. 3,000 listed salmon rivers in Ireland a number of which are below required to ensure that salmon are reproducing in sufficient Spawning grounds created/ River Dargle 1,500 their conservation limit. In the first instance priority is given quantities to produce the next generation of salmon. This is rehabilitated. to rivers below their conservation limits in Special Areas of developed using a range of scientific indices. Spawning grounds created/ Conservation (SACs) and which have the greatest prospect River Urinn rehabilitated, trees and 5,000 of recovery. However other rivers and programmes have also Administering the Fund obstacles removed. been considered. River Avoca Smolt rescue programme. 10,000 The ‘Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund’ is being managed Southern Region Spawning grounds created/ 15,000 Rehabilitation work on the Srahnaploya River by a committee comprised of CFB scientists and Regional River Allow/Dalua rehabilitated. Fisheries Board representatives who receive project Drish River rehabilitation. 10,000 Conservation Benefits applications from the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. River Dinan Construction of fish pass. 29,000 The conservation benefits arising from the above works are; Each project is assessed and scored based on the river’s Shannon Region In stream works and habitat 62,000 • River banks were protected, preventing erosion and destruction conservation limit status, its special area of conservation River Maigue* restoration. of spawning sites and siltation, e.g. Rock armour has been (SAC) status, its water quality (Q-value) and the maximum Annageeragh Improvements to fish passage. 10,000 placed along sections of the Carrownisky River in the Western potential benefits to the river. Those projects recommended Western Region Region to stabilise the river bank and enhance spawning and River bank protection. 2,500 for funding are then forwarded to the CEOs of the relevant River Gleninagh nursery areas. Regional Fisheries Boards for final approval. Glencoaghan River River bank protection. 2,500 • Salmon spawning grounds were created and enhanced River Erriff River bank protection. 10,000 increasing production capacity, e.g. in the Dundalk District of the The revenue generated from the Salmon Conservation Stamp Lough Inagh River bank protection. 5,000 Eastern Region spawning and instream works were carried out Fund is reinvested to promote the recovery of our salmon Recess River bank protection. 10,000 in sections of the River Fane, White River and tributaries of the stocks and habitats taking into account project feasibility, Carrowniskey River bank protection. 5,000 Rivers Dee and Glyde. On the River Liffey new spawning beds funding availability and value for money considerations. River bank protection, Spawning were created at Castletown Estate and on the River Vartry a new Owenmore River* 7,500 ground rehabilitation. spawning bed was created upstream of Ashford. River bank protection, Spawning • Instream structures were improved and enhanced to provide Project Applications Costello River 2,500 grounds rehabilitation. additional juvenile salmon habitat, e.g. In the River Maigue in In 2007, the implementation committee received 64 project Spawning grounds the Shannon Region, structures were introduced to the river to River Screebe 5,000 proposals from the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards rehabilitation. simulate natural river conditions. requesting a total of €1,253,500. Each project was assessed North Western Region Spawning ground, weirs and • Pools were constructed creating holding areas for salmon fry, 30,000 according to the criteria identified above and a numeric score