Salmon ban plan could further damage ailing angling tourism industry

THE angling tourism industry could be plunged into chaos with regional fisheries boards being directed to introduce a ban on fishermen taking salmon during September.

The proposed ban could lead to upwards of 70% of booking cancellations from overseas’ anglers, accommodation providers warned last night.

The salmon season is due to finish at the end of September.

To add salt to the wounds of the industry, where business in some areas is down by 77%, Marine Minister Dermot Ahern’s department is also expected to request anglers to voluntarily implement catch-and-release practices for the remainder of August.

Ian Powell, who runs the Blackwater Lodge Hotel and a salmon fishery on the Blackwater River near Ballyduff, said the proposed ban was confirmed to him over the Bank Holiday period by the Southern Regional Fisheries Board.

Mr Powell, whose business is totally dependant on visiting anglers, said he was outraged by the ministerial directive.

He claimed an email from the Southern Regional Fisheries Board showed Mr Ahern believed “immediate measures are necessary to reduce angling exploitation for the remainder of this year”.

The department is reportedly concerned about stock levels “arising out of a poor run and commercial catches”.

According to email correspondence in Mr Powell’s possession, regional fishery boards have been told the department its ministers “are strongly encouraging all anglers to voluntarily fish on a catch-and-release basis during the month of August.”

Mr Powell said the email points to a total ban on salmon from September 1 in the interests of ensuring an increased survival level for spawning purposes.

The hotelier said the ministerial directive came on the same day the department approved a one-day extension of the netting season to allow commercial fishermen achieve their 9,000-plus landing quota on the Blackwater.

“If the minister or his department is so concerned about stocks, why on earth didn’t they reduce exploitation by nets, which would have had a far greater impact,” Mr Powell said.

Compared to figures for 2000, Mr Powell said rod days booked for September were down 77%. “Any prospect of boosting these numbers will go out the window if a ban is introduced,” he said. “Any restrictions will certainly discourage some anglers from coming.”

He added: “The salmon management policy of the country will be a laughing stock when people see the powers-that-be seek to curtail rod anglers catches having just allowed netsmen to slaughter their full quota.”