Angling Notes/Derek Evans: It is regrettable that the Government did not make a clear statement on its decision to adopt recommendations made by the National Salmon Commission (NSC), according to the Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now (SSDNN) campaign, which says it has resulted in confusion among those with an interest in salmon stocks.
The Minister of State at the Department of the Marine, John Browne, recently said he will reduce quotas to commercial fishermen and anglers in 2006 and he reiterated the Government's commitment to align with scientific advice on the management of wild salmon by 2007.
According to SSDNN, "The clear, logical outcome of this commitment is that mixed stock fishing for salmon will end with the 2006 season. This means all drift-netting and some draft-netting will cease for good."
The Minister said reductions in quotas in recent years had caused the commercial fishing industry difficulty and full alignment with scientific advice will compound these problems.
Consequently, the Minister appointed an independent group to examine the implications of new regulations for the commercial sector in 2007 and beyond, and to make recommendations to address any financial hardship.
In The Irish Times on April 27th, the independent group invited interested parties to make submissions on financial losses that may arise to the commercial salmon fishery as a result of aligning with scientific advice.
In addition, the group requested parties to consider suitable contributions from those who will benefit most as a result of more salmon being returned to the rivers. Send submissions to independentgroup@bim.ie before June 30th. While supportive of this initiative, SSDNN said an early announcement of a compensation package for those exiting the commercial sector is critical and should be delivered before August 31st.
With regard to contributions, it said "anglers, angling associations and fishery owners have made it clear on many occasions their willingness to contribute appropriately to the cost of any compensation package".
Two further areas the Government should address urgently, according to SSDNN, are the need to increase protection services to ensure fishing at sea does not continue illegally and to eliminate over-exploitation in the estuaries, rivers and lakes.
And secondly, in the absence of a single national policy on the management of salmon stocks, the concept of single stock management on a river-by-river basis must also be a priority for the Government.
Drift nets have not yet been removed and, historically, Government follow-through on salmon management has been poor, SSDNN concludes.
Meanwhile, the agm of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now Limited will be held next Sunday in the Sheldon Park Hotel, Kylemore Road, Dublin. While attendance is confined to company members, an open conference is scheduled for 2pm on the theme "After Drift Nets, Rebuilding our Salmon Stocks". Guest speakers will include Dr Ronald Campbell of the Tweed Foundation and Dr Graeme Harris from the Environment Agency of Wales.
The April report from Lough Currane, Waterville, Co Kerry, makes for interesting reading. The month promised much and delivered on sea trout. Salmon fishing was reasonable, but cold weather kept the large stock of springers relatively quiet, said fisheries manager John Murphy.
Last week saw salmon fall to Brod Sullivan, Vincent Appelby, Gerry O'Sullivan and Dave Treacy. However, plaudits must go to Steve Bullock who took a wonderful sea trout of 5.124kg on a Kingsmill size 12, which ousted Dave Treacy's fish of 5.094kg lastyear. It is subject to ratification as a new record for Lough Currane.
Prospects for the the season are excellent, with the largest exodus of salmon and sea trout smolts witnessed in years exiting the Butler Pool in the last number of weeks. www.loughcurrane.com.
Make sure to watch the first of a four-part series on Cork Harbour this evening on RTÉ One at 7.30pm, and continuing each Monday for four weeks. Entitled, The Harbour - Cork's Hidden Treasure? the series is compiled by Afloat editor David O'Brien and follows his highly successful programme on Dublin Bay last year.
Sea angling is featured in programme three on May 22nd and joins the three Whispering Pine charter boats as they venture out for a day's fishing from Crosshaven. Full details are available at www.theharbour.tv.
The second trial of the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association will be held at Ballinlough Lake, near Westport, Co Mayo, on Saturday. The competition starts at 11am and weigh-in begins at 6pm. Contact Susan Brown at 07788-426340 (N Ireland).