Anglers blame drift netting for river’s salmon slump

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.

Figures released yesterday by the Fort William Fishery, on the River Blackwater near Fermoy, County Cork, also show a major increase in the number of damaged fish being caught due to coming into contact with commercial nets.

Patrick Devennie, fishery manager on the Fort William estate, said tourist anglers attracted to the 3.5-mile beat dropped last June by 60% and 67% in July. Catches of salmon are, however, healthy in August and September - when the drift netting season is over. But they are also dependent on adequate rainfall to allow salmon to move upstream.