The Minister for the Marine, Mr Fahey, has introduced another conservation measure for wild salmon in spite of a threatened "campaign of protest" by one of the largest angling organisations.
A new "bag limit" of one spring salmon or sea trout over 40 cm has been introduced at the start of the salmon angling season. Mr Fahey said the regulations had been agreed by all stakeholders in the natural salmon resource, including anglers, following a unanimous recommendation from the National Salmon Commission.
As the season opened, the Bundrowes river in Co Donegal once again set claims to the first wild salmon catch of the new year. Mr Patrick Treacy from Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, caught a 10lb salmon on worm at 3.30 p.m. yesterday from the mill pool.
Three other salmon were lost after being hooked earlier in the day, according to Drowes fisheries manager Mr Shane Gallagher.
The new regulation stipulates that only the first salmon or sea trout over 40 cm, caught by rod and line, may be retained. Anglers may continue to fish but must return any salmon or sea trout caught subsequently to the water.
The limit will apply from January 1st to May 31st each year.
The Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers marked the start of the season yesterday with a call to members to withdraw support for all conservation measures introduced over the past year.
The organisation also warned that no tourist anglers would be "welcome to fish" in any water used by federation members, and it said it had asked members serving on State bodies, such as the National Salmon Commission and regional fisheries boards, to stand down.
"All national angling bodies will be called on to support our campaign," Mr Noel Carr of the federation said. It had been agreed after the Minister failed to respond to an appeal on key issues affecting its members, he said.
The federation's demands include securing the long-term tenure of angling clubs in Kerry, Mayo and Donegal on "traditional waters" owned by the State, where "eviction" notices have been served, and the introduction by the Minister of a buy-out or restrictions on commercial salmon nets.
The National Salmon Commission has expressed support for a set-aside scheme for drift-netters, but has said a buy-out is unconstitutional. The anglers say Mr Fahey supports a buy-out if he can get funding from the Minister for Finance.
The federation said yesterday the Minister had promised restrictions for netsmen once minor points had been clarified. He had stated this last July, but there had been no action.
