Advice on DCAL Area Salmon Stocks 2016. (Executive Summary)

2016

Standing Scientific Committee - Advice on

DCAL Area Salmon Stocks 2016. (Executive Summary)

R.J. Kennedy, R. Rosell, D. Ensing, P. Gargan# & P. Boylan+ AFBI, IFI (#), LA (+) 1/15/2016 [Type text]

DCAL Standing Scientific Committee (Salmon & Sea Trout)

Following the introduction of new precautionary salmon conservation regulations in 2014 the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure appointed an independent Standing Scientific Committee to review salmon stock status annually and advise on conservation measures. The committee is comprised of fishery scientists from AFBI (Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute), The Loughs Agency and Inland Fisheries Ireland. The second annual meeting of the committee was held in Belfast on 13th January 2016. Its main recommendations for DCAL in relation to 2016 are set out in this summary.

The committee assessed the status of salmon stocks in Northern Ireland, separating these as far as possible into individual discrete breeding stocks in “primary” and “secondary” salmon rivers, categories determined by stock size. Stocks in these rivers were assessed using data available from surveys, counts, and catch returns. Conditions for permitting harvest of salmon from primary rivers (single stock fisheries) and coastal commercial fisheries (mixed stock fisheries), were considered with reference to NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation) guidelines for the management of salmon fisheries. Precautionary stock levels permitting harvest (= Management Targets) were developed and applied separately to commercial and recreational fishing, taking into account management advice processes in neighbouring fishery jurisdictions where appropriate.

1. Assessment of DCAL Area Commercial Salmon Fisheries.

Management Objectives for DCAL area Mixed Stock Fisheries.

The DCAL area commercial salmon fishery represents a Mixed Stock Fishery (MSF) with a number of contributory stocks. NASCO guidelines indicate that management of homewater MSFs should be based on the status of individual river stocks and knowledge of the stocks that contribute to the fishery with conservation best achieved if the fishery targets stocks at full reproductive capacity. Salmon harvest from DCAL area MSFs requires that the collective of stocks exploited reaches a threshold level equivalent to the “management target” of 125% of the conservation limit (CL). Importantly in accordance with NASCO guidelines for MSFs, this must be attained in all the individual contributing rivers or other stock units potentially exploited. Additionally, this precautionary reference point should be met or exceeded consistently over a number of years before commercial exploitation can be permitted, a stipulation which gives some confidence that targets will continue to be met given unpredictable inter-annual variation in stock levels

Salmon exploitation by a MSF necessitates a management threshold set at a level above the CL to ensure there is a high probability of stocks exceeding their CL, in line with NASCO guidelines. A management target (MT) of 125% of CL for all the contributing rivers/stock units exploited by the DCAL area MSF was adopted as a precautionary reference point. Commercial exploitation might be permissible should all the rivers contributing to the MSF consistently achieve ≥125% of CL.

Given the range of stocks contributing to the DCAL area commercial salmon fishery, monitoring must be broad enough to include the diversity of stocks exploited and must be temporally sufficient to recognise trends in abundance and to ensure stocks are consistently attaining MTs. Eight monitored indicator stocks (with either trap or fish counter datasets) have been selected to reflect the status of stocks contributing to the DCAL area MSF, these include the rivers Finn (W. Foyle), Roe & Faughan (N. Foyle), Mourne (SE Foyle), Lower Bann (L. Bann and tributaries), Bush, Glendun and Shimna. Before commercial exploitation can be considered all these indicator stocks must attain a management objective of ≥125% of CL in ≥3 years out of the 5 most recent years for which data is available. The current status of the main indicator stocks is outlined in Table 1. The most recent data indicates that 2 of the 8 monitored rivers are currently attaining defined Management Objectives. Consequently under the precautionary management objectives the current scientific advice is that no MSF should be prosecuted in the DCAL area in 2016.

Table 1. Attainment of Management Objective for contributory stocks to the DCAL area commercial Mixed Stock Fishery (MSF).

Indicator Monitoring Time-Series No. years Attainment of Stock/River Type available ≥MT Management (No. Yrs) (No. Yrs Objective available) Finn Counter 2010-14 (5) 0 (5) No Roe Counter 2010-14 (5) 5 (5) Yes Mourne Counter 2009 (1) 0 (1) No Faughan Counter 2010-14 (5) 5 (5) Yes Lower Bann Counter 2011-15 (5) 0 (5) No Bush Trap 2011-15 (5) 1 (5) No Glendun Counter 2011-15 (5) 1 (5) No Shimna Counter 2011-15 (3) 0 (3) No

2. Assessment of DCAL Area Recreational Salmon Fisheries.

Management Objectives

The “primary” salmon producing rivers in the DCAL area have been identified on the basis of population size, as the rivers Bush, Ballycastle, Glendun, Glenarm, Shimna, Agivey, Clady, Lower Bann, Moyola, Ballinderry, Blackwater, Upper Bann, Sixmile, Main, Erne, and the collective group of DCAL area Melvin tributaries .

DCAL have stated that some harvest of fish by angling may be permissible on a primary salmon river should it consistently achieve MT (≥115% of CL). Before recreational exploitation can be considered a river must attain a Management Objective of ≥115% of CL in ≥3 years out of the 5 most recent years for which data is available. Should a river consistently attain MT a precautionary harvestable surplus (tag allocation) can be determined. Note that the MT of 115% of CL for angling is lower than the 125% of CL set for commercial fishing, recognising the lower exploitation efficiency of angling as compared with commercial fishing.

Under the NASCO definition of the precautionary approach a lack of scientific data should not be used as a reason for failing to undertake conservation measures and where information is lacking managers should be more cautious. Therefore a lack of data on any particular river will reduce the scope for angling exploitation to be permitted on that river.

The following table (Table 2) sets out, for the primary salmon rivers of the DCAL area, where a harvest might be permissible for 2016 and at what level, based on stock level indicators available to the committee. The indicator metric listed is Management Target (Millions of salmon ova). Assessment methods used are: automated electronic counters (Counter); acoustic telemetry to separate counts to tributary rivers (Tracking); trap data (Trap); extrapolation from rod catch data (Rod Catch); and electric fishing survey (Electrofishing). Where there is no or Insufficient data, no assessment (N/A) is recorded. The rivers are given a “recommended status” of harvestable surplus (HS) or Catch and release only (C&R), dependent on whether or not they have attained the management target stock level in three of the past five years.

Secondary rivers There are a number of “Secondary” rivers outside the primary list, with smaller salmon stocks and lesser data availability- these are clearly more vulnerable to stock depletion due to potential low population size and the committee considers that these should be subject to more cautious management. It is recommended that these secondary salmon rivers are restricted to catch and release angling only (C&R).

Table 2. Status of salmon stocks in primary salmon rivers of the DCAL area, assessment data available, and recommendations for harvest or catch and release angling for 2016. C&R = Catch & Release, HS = Harvestable Surplus.

River Managem. Assessment Data Attainment Status Tags Target Adult Juvenile Managem. (M ova) Objective L. Bann 16.76 Counter Electrofishing No C&R 0 Main 3.13 Tracking Electrofishing No C&R 0

Blackwater 2.47 Tracking Electrofishing No C&R 0

Sixmile 2.0 Tracking Electrofishing No C&R 0

Ballinderry 1.96 Tracking Electrofishing No C&R 0

Moyola 2.92 Tracking Electrofishing No C&R 0

U. Bann 1.98 Tracking Electrofishing No C&R 0

Clady 1.43 Counter Electrofishing Yes HS 121

Agivey N/A N/A Electrofishing N/A N/A N/A

Bush 2.66 Trap Electrofishing No C&R 0

Ballycastle 1.51 Rod catch Electrofishing No C&R 0

Glendun 0.48 Counter Electrofishing No C&R 0

Glenarm 0.44 Rod catch Electrofishing Yes HS 37

Shimna 0.30 Counter Electrofishing No C&R 0

Melvin IFI1 Rod catch Electrofishing Yes HS 122

Erne IFI1 Counter Electrofishing No C&R 0

Secondary Harvest of salmon from secondary rivers is not considered advisable Rivers under current conditions.

1 Conservation Limit & Adult Stock Assessment produced by IFI. http:// http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/fisheries-management-1/482-the-status-of-irish-salmon-stocks-in- 2014-with-precautionary-catch-advice-for-2015/file 3. Sea Trout in the DCAL area.

Under the NI Fisheries Act (1966) salmon and sea trout are grouped together and any restrictions on salmon fisheries by default also apply to sea trout. Regular stock assessment with reference to river specific conservation limits are not currently available for sea trout rivers. Recent DCAL commissioned research work has focused on the development of a biological reference point and stock status assessment methods for a typical DCAL area sea trout stock (Shimna river).

Adult sea trout returns and juvenile brown trout abundance indices have been increasing on the Shimna river over the past 15 years and modelling work has shown the stock to be consistently attaining a putative ova deposition target. Ova production models for the Shimna have further indicated that larger (>40cm) sea trout, produced the majority (c. 85%) of eggs deposited in the river each year (Kennedy et al., 2016 in prep). The Shimna work indicates that large mature sea trout (≥ 1SW) represent the main driver of productivity and that any future fisheries measures should ensure these fish are subject to precautionary management. For example, future recreational harvest could be limited in a controlled fashion with appropriate bag limits allocated to the more abundant finnock component of the stock (<40cm fish).

Some challenges are evident around the precautionary management of sea trout fisheries in the DCAL area, particularly;

 Protection of weaker stocks. Sea trout in the DCAL area may have variable stock status between different river systems and/or regions and the applicability of the Shimna work to the broader range of DCAL catchments may not be appropriate. For example electric fishing results have indicated that juvenile trout densities are generally higher in Mourne country streams than rivers in the Glens of Antrim. Any new measures must ensure a precautionary approach to the management and protection of weaker stocks.  The suggested maximum size limit (40 cm) whilst appropriate on the Shimna river could be examined and assessed on a range of other DCAL rivers to ensure it offers sufficient protection to other stocks.  The issue of vagrancy. The recent 2nd International Symposium on Sea Trout (Dundalk, Oct 2015) indicated that finnock may exhibit ‘vagrancy’ behaviours and move between river estuaries, potentially resulting in mixed stock fisheries.  Management of coastal fisheries. Future opening of sea trout fisheries in freshwater may generate interest in coastal exploitation by the commercial sector and sea anglers. Fisheries outside rivers will represent mixed stock fisheries and must be subject to precautionary management, with suitable conservation measures in place.  Effective catch reporting and monitoring. Previously, when exploitation was permitted in the DCAL area sea trout <50cm did not need to be tagged. Exploitation focused on smaller fish would require an adequate catch reporting system perhaps with carcass tags issued to sea trout anglers.  Interaction with resident “brown” trout exploitation. These are generally protected, among other measures by a minimum size limit of 10 inches (25.4 cm). To harmonise any harvest of resident and non-resident trout, it is recommended that this lower size limit be adopted for any sea trout harvest, resulting in a “slot limit” of 25.4 to 40 cm

The SSC considered the present evidence, data deficiencies and management challenges and recommended that a limited allocation of 2 sea trout (< 40cm) per angler per year in freshwater was unlikely to compromise stocks. Such a measure would balance the needs of conservation (protection of larger egg rich females) against recreational opportunities. The limited nature of the measure (2 fish yr-1) whilst restrictive is also precautionary to help safeguard potentially weaker stocks through-out the area, particularly if vagrancy is a widespread behaviour. In order to facilitate the proposed opening of DCAL area sea trout fisheries and to ensure the precautionary management of sea trout exploitation, several issues should first be addressed and developed including;

a. The development of a suitable tagging and/or reporting system for sea trout anglers, since the current model of river specific tag allocations for salmon would not be appropriate to a more general opening of sea trout fisheries. b. The implementation of suitable conservation measures and/or policy directive to cover coastal fisheries, recognising the potential for capture of sea trout, particularly close to shore, by sea anglers and commercial sea fishermen c. The compilation of all available data on trout stocks in DCAL coastal rivers to identify weaker stocks, provide context against future catch returns and to inform and develop future management actions. d. The provision of a regular review mechanism to monitor and assess sea trout stocks with the provision to undertake appropriate management actions should it be deemed necessary (perhaps done at the DCAL SSC). e. Further research would also be valuable to focus on the biology of finnock in the DCAL area.

The general opening of the DCAL area fishery may not be attainable in the current year (2016) given the practical issues that need to be addressed and developed (e.g. tagging system) and a target date of 2017 may be more appropriate.

DCAL do have the opportunity however to undertake a trial opening of the sea trout fishery on the Shimna river in 2016. This could serve as a pilot study before a wider opening in 2017 and could also be facilitated through the existing tagging infrastructure by allocation of river specific tags for sea trout (<40 cm). The tag allocation could be set from the ongoing research work on the river (proposed tag allocation 2016 = 202 sea trout tags), in a similar fashion to salmon tag allocation. Additionally the fish taken by the fishery could be sampled (scale samples/genetic samples) and used to help address outstanding scientific questions regarding finnock biology.

4. Summary of Main Recommendations from the SSC for 2016.

1. The SSC recommends that no commercial coastal salmon fishery should be prosecuted in the DCAL area in 2016. 2. The SSC recommends that in river recreational salmon fisheries the DCAL area in 2016 should be managed as set out in Table 2 above. 3. The SSC considered that a limited allocation of 2 sea trout (< 40cm) per angler per year in freshwater was unlikely to compromise stocks. Such a measure would balance the needs of conservation (protection of larger egg rich females) against recreational opportunities. 4. The SSC recommended that the DCAL management objectives should be reviewed to reflect current ICES practice. 5. The SSC recommended that catchment specific SQ electric fishing from primary salmon rivers should not be used prescriptively but rather be used as additional information for review at the annual SSC meeting. 6. The SSC recommended that ‘secondary’ salmon rivers be surveyed by electric fishing at least once in every five years. 7. The SSC suggests that DCAL consider the merits of a scientific fishery in a designated future year to provide additional material for scientific assessment on stock status and stock composition. 8. The SSC suggested that rod based stock assessment procedures for DCAL rivers be reviewed in the context of new research from IFI.

DCAL Area Standing Scientific Committee - Members 2015.

R. Rosell AFBI (Chairman)

R.J. Kennedy AFBI (Secretary)

D. Ensing AFBI

W.W. Crozier AFBI (until Nov 2015)

P. Gargan Inland Fisheries Ireland

P. Boylan Loughs Agency

DCAL Area Primary Salmon Rivers –

Stock Assessments 2011-15 & Management Recommendations for 2016.

River Lower Bann (Lower Bann/Lough Neagh Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 14.572 M ova Management Target 16.76 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Resistivity Fish Counter Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 No harvestable Surplus Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 0/5 years >MT. Harvestable Surplus 0. Catch & Release. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index - Refer to individual Lough Neagh & Bann Area feeder rivers.

1) 140

120

100

80 See Individual Neagh/Bann 60 feeder tributaries

40 % CL

% Conservation Limit Conservation% 20 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

2 CL based on habitat above the fish counting station at Portna. River Main (Lough Neagh Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 2.725 M ova Management Target 3.13 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Lower Bann Telemetry Programme Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2015 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 1/5 years >MT. Harvestable Surplus 0. Catch & Release. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index 2010-2014 – Moderate (Excellent in 2013).

2) 30 1) 140 SQ Index

120 1

- MT

100 20 80 15 60 10

40 % CL mins No.0+5 5 20 MT

% Conservation Limit Conservation% 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Blackwater (Lough Neagh Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 2.15 M ova Management Target 2.47 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Lower Bann Telemetry Programme Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) 140 2) 30

120 25 SQ Index

1 - 100 MT 20 80 15 60 No. 0+ 5 mins 50+No. 10

40 % CL % Conservation Limit Conservation% 20 MT 5

0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Sixmile (Lough Neagh Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 1.74 M ova Management Target 2.0 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Lower Bann Telemetry Programme Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) 140 2) 25 SQ Index

120

20 MT 1 100 - % 80 CL 15 MT

60 10 No. 0+ 5 mins 50+No. 40 5 % Conservation Limit Conservation % 20 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Ballinderry (Lough Neagh Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 1.70 M ova Management Target 1.96 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Lower Bann Telemetry Programme Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2010-2015.

1) 140 2) 30 SQ Index 120 25

1 100 % - 20 CL 80 MT 15 60 10

40 No. 0+ 5 mins 50+No. 5

% Conservation Limit Conservation % 20 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Moyola (Lough Neagh Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 2.54 M ova Management Target 2.92 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Lower Bann Telemetry Programme Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) 140 2) 30 SQ Index 120 25

100 1 - 20 80 15 60 10 40 % CL mins 50+No. 5 % Conservation Limit Conservation% 20 MT 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Upper Bann (Lough Neagh Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 1.72 M ova Management Target 1.98 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Lower Bann Telemetry Programme Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 2/5 years >MT. Harvestable Surplus 0. Catch & Release. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index 2011-2015 – Poor - Moderate.

30 1) 140 2) SQ Index 120 25

1 100 - 20 80 15 60 10 40 % mins No.0+5 CL MT 5 % Conservation Limit Conservation% 20

0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Clady (Lower Bann Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 1.243 M ova Management Target 1.43 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Resistivity Fish Counter Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Harvestable Surplus Potential Harvestable Surplus 121 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 121

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1. Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 3/5 years >MT. Harvestable Surplus Available. 2. Juvenile Recruitment Index 2011-2015 – Moderate-Good.

1)200 2) 30 SQ Index 25

150 MT

1 20 - 100 15 10 50 % CL

MT mins 50+No. 5 % Conservation Limit Conservation % 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

3 CL based on habitat above the fish counting station at Inishrush. River Agivey (Lower Bann Area)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory N/A Conservation Limit N/A Management Target N/A Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement N/A Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics N/A Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Potential Harvestable Surplus N/A Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) N/A

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; Insufficient data4. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index 2011-2015 – Good - Excellent.

1) 140 2) 40 35 120

1 100 - 25 80 MT 20 60 15

40 mins 50+No. 10 SQ Index

% Conservation Limit Conservation % 20 5 MT 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

4 The SSC recommends that in the absence of sufficient data (CL/adult abundance) precautionary management should be applied (NASCO 2009). Further a habitat survey should be conducted, a conservation limit set and a mechanism for adult abundance assessment investigated.

River Bush (Coastal)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 2.31 M ova Management Target 2.66 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Trap Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Catch returns Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) 160 2) 30 140 SQ Index

120

1 100 - 20

80 15 60 10 40 % mins 50+No.

CL % Conservation Limit Conservation% 20 MT 5 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

River Margy/Carey (Ballycastle) (Coastal)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 1.31 M ova Management Target 1.51 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement N/A Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 0/3 years >MT. Harvestable Surplus 0. Catch & Release. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index 2010-2014 – Moderate.

1)140 2) 30

SQ Index

120 25 MT

100 1 - 20 80 15 60

10 No. 0+ 5 mins 50+No. % Conservation Limit Conservation% 40 % CL

20 MT 5

0 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Glendun (Coastal)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 5 0.42 M ova Management Target 0.48 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Resistivity Fish Counter Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) 2) 30 SQ Index 150

25 MT

20 1 100 - 15

% 10

50 CL No. 0+ 5 mins 50+No. % Conservation limit Conservation% MT 5

0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

5 CL based on habitat above the fish counting station at Clady Road.

River Glenarm (Coastal)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 0.38 M ova Management Target 0.44 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Rod Catch Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Local catch returns Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Harvestable Surplus Available Potential Harvestable Surplus 37 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 37

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 4/5 years >MT. Harvestable Surplus Available. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index 2011-2015 – Moderate.

1)160 2) 30 SQ Index

140 25

- MT 120 20 100 80 15

60 mins 5 FryNo. %CL 10 40

% Conservation Limit Conservation% MT 20 5

0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

River Shimna (Coastal)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory LCU Survey Conservation Limit 6 0.20 M ova Management Target 0.23 M ova Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Resistivity Fish Counter Juvenile Abundance Semi-Quantitative Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics Annual Monitoring Catch Details Local catch returns Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) 140 2) 30 SQ Index 120 25

1 100 - 20 80 15 60 10

40 mins 50+No.

20 % CL MT 5 % Conservation Limit Conservation% 0 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

6 CL based on habitat above the fish counting station.

River Erne (Fermanagh)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory n/a Conservation Limit IFI7 Management Target n/a Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Vaki Fish Counter Juvenile Abundance SQ Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics n/a Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2016 Catch & Release Potential Harvestable Surplus 0 Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 0

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2016 Fishery. Most recent data series 2011-2015.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 0/5 years >MT11. Harvestable Surplus 0. Catch & Release. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index 2010-2014 – a) [Garvary] Poor; b) [Ballinamallard] Poor (Moderate 2013).

30 2a) 30 2b)

25 SQ Index 25 SQ Index

1 - - 20 20

15 15

10 10

No. 0+ 5 mins 50+No. No. 0+ 5 mins 50+No. 5 5

0 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

7 Conservation Limit & Adult Stock Assessment produced by IFI. http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/fisheries-management-1/449-the-status-of-irish-salmon-stocks-in- 2013-with-precautionary-catch-advice-for-2014/file

Lough Melvin (Fermanagh)

River Characteristics Habitat Inventory n/a Conservation Limit IFI8 Management Target n/a Salmon Monitoring Data Adult Escapement Rod Catch Juvenile Abundance SQ Electric Fishing Biological Characteristics n/a Catch Details Carcass Tagging 2002-13 Conservation Recommendations Recommended Fishery Status 2015 Harvestable Surplus Potential Harvestable Surplus 122 (DCAL Area) Final Harvestable Surplus (tag allocation) 122 (DCAL Area)

Salmon Stock Assessment for 2015 Fishery. Most recent data series 2010-2014.

1) Adult Salmon Escapement & Compliance against Conservation Limit and Management Target (115% CL). Outcome; 5/5 years >MT12. Harvestable Surplus Available. 2) Juvenile Recruitment Index N/A.

8 Conservation Limit & Adult Stock Assessment produced by IFI. http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/fisheries-management-1/449-the-status-of-irish-salmon-stocks-in- 2013-with-precautionary-catch-advice-for-2014/file