Madam, - Arthur Reynolds (April 7th) claims that the decline in Liffey salmon is not caused by drift-netting, as none takes place on the east coast. But as is correctly stated in your Editorial of April 4th, wild salmon heading for the Liffey and other east-coast rivers run the gauntlet of drift-nets all the way around our west and south coasts. Salmon migrate close to our shores, often within a couple of miles.
Mr Reynolds misses the vital point - that drift netting is indiscriminate. Salmon from rivers which have stocks below their spawning requirement are being killed alongside fish from the three or four healthy salmon rivers. The wild salmon heading for the Liffey would be very lucky fish to get as far as the seal colony on Howth. In 20 years of fishing in east-coast rivers only 10 per cent of the salmon I have caught and returned have not been covered in net-marks.
It is ridiculous to attribute the decline in salmon on the Liffey to the seal colony. Salmon can take their chances with the seals and there will be little effect on salmon stock. The wild salmon and the seal have co-existed for millennia.
Mr Reynolds also states that we do not take as much care of our spawning redds as do other countries. Perhaps he would like to join east-coast river angling clubs on their frequent river enhancement work parties. - Yours, etc.,
ANTHONY WALSH, Monkstown, Co Dublin.
Madam, - Arthur Reynolds suggests that the decline in stocks of Liffey Salmon is due to seal predation in Dublin Bay and lack of attention to spawning redds.
Since 1980 the Marine Institute has been sampling catches of tagged salmon smolts artificially introduced into the Liffey by the ESB in an effort to maintain stocks in that river. In the period 1980 to 2003, 95 per cent of all the tagged and by now adult fish caught on their return to the coast from the feeding grounds were taken in nets operating along the west coast from Donegal to Kerry.
This is not to say that there isn't a seal problem, but it does point to a huge problem elsewhere. The effect is to almost completely nullify the efforts of the ESB and the angling associations on the Liffey to restore stocks and to maintain and protect spawning areas. - Yours, etc.,
NIALL GREENE, Raheen, Co Limerick.