May Salmon Watch Ireland Newsletter
Safeguarding the Genetics of Ireland’s Wild Salmon
The May edition of Salmon Watch Ireland’s newsletter is out and it focuses on:
Introgression of Farmed Salmon into Irish Rivers
Collapse of Spring Salmon
Introgression of Farmed Salmon into Irish Rivers
“Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), University College Cork (UCC), and Teagasc continued their collaborative effort in 2024 as part of the GeneFlow project—a nationwide initiative to monitor and safeguard the genetic integrity of Ireland's wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). The primary goal is to detect and measure harmful gene flow (genetic introgression) from farmed escapee salmon into wild stocks.”
Collapse of Spring Salmon
“Anecdotal reports from around Ireland and indeed Scotland would suggest very poor catches of MSW Atlantic salmon thus far in 2025. We did highlight the recent report on the Greenland fishery in 2024 in which catches were poor thus it should come as no surprise that MSW salmon are not in great numbers in our rivers this year. West Greenland is the area where our MSW salmon feed during their second year at sea.
We in Salmon Watch Ireland have strongly advocated for an end to commercial fisheries in Ireland, and certainly that fisheries presently licensed should not commence until 01 June and not be allowed to operate from the 12th May which occurs in several catchments.
The present legislation allows for some netting stations to commence on 12th May and we believe that an intervention even at this late stage could allow more fish to enter these catchments.”