THE number of salmon caught on one of the finest river beats in the county has decreased alarmingly in the past five years, and the blame is being laid squarely on drift net fishermen.

AN international organisation yesterday backed a Fine Gael blueprint aimed at both safeguarding and utilising wild salmon stocks more economically.

MORE than 4,000 anglers from all over the country delivered a strong message to the Government at the weekend - end drift netting for salmon now.