Salmon Fishery Status

The Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) assesses the status of stocks annually in designated salmon rivers and issues associated catch advice for the following season using data from salmon angling and commercial catch records, fish counters and other sources to determine whether these stocks are meeting their respective conservation limits and to identify whether a surplus of salmon is available to be sustainably fished. Conservation limits are essentially the minimum number of returning adult salmon a river should have to ensure its stock remains sustainable.  For a number of rivers with a sizeable multi-sea-winter (MSW) stock component, catch advice is issued separately for 1SW (grilse) and MSW stocks.  Where stocks are below the conservation limit, catch-&-release-only fishing or closure of the fishery may be advised.  This scientific catch advice is presented to salmon fishery managers for decision-making on fishery status. Following a public consultation period, the fishery status and total allowable catch for salmon rivers are implemented in legislation each December for the following year.   Salmon rivers may also be subject to further bye-laws on opening & closing dates, bag limits, permitted methods, tag requirements, etc.  More information on salmon angling regulations can be found at https://fishinginireland.info/salmon/salmonregs/.  Salmon angling licenses may be purchased online at https://store.fishinginireland.info/ or at local IFI offices.  More information on the National Salmon Assessment and related annual reports can be found at https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/what-we-do/research/technical-expert-group-on-salmon-tegos.