Crisis levels of salmon stocks in Irish waters
Ian Powell runs the internationally-renowned Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fishing Hotel in Ballyduff, west Waterford. But since salmon stocks began to dwindle on the river in 2000, so has his business.
Unless something is done soon to address the situation, and drift netting in particular is curtailed, he fears he could be put out of business.
The Green Party agrees that the situation has hit crisis point and is promoting conservation. It has already warned that salmon on the Blackwater are on the verge of extinction.
The Department of the Marine said the central and regional fisheries boards devote considerable effort and resources, in collaboration with Tourism Ireland, to the promotion of angling both in Ireland and abroad.
“The Marine Minister, Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, is advised however, that the overall decline in angling tourism is not unique to Ireland but reflects a widespread trend in Europe,” a spokesman said.
But the reduction in salmon stock is already having an impact on tourism, says Mr Powell. “Business was good until the year 2000. But it’s down to about half of what it was then. People perceive that nothing is being done in Ireland to preserve salmon stocks. People are voting with their feet and saying they just won’t come here to fish,” he said.
Other factors do come into play, such as the world fall-off in tourism after September 11, he said, but the problem with stocks is something that stands out.
He also doesn’t think the general perception that Ireland no longer offers value for money to tourists is a factor.
“Irish salmon fishing is extremely good value for money. Ireland is much, much cheaper. We haven’t put up our prices in three years. In our busiest times, I would employ up to 30 people. At the moment, I have two and the maximum I will have is eight this year.
“It has an impact on not just my trade but on the general tourist spend. All of the scientific evidence is there. But the Government is doing nothing about it. In 2003, the Government said it would implement recommendations. But now they are talking 2007,” Mr Powell said.
He said some of the recommendations involve fisheries being closed completely, but there are other ways of preserving the stock such as halting drift netting.
“It’s an amazing situation. Salmon are in danger but nothing is being done about it. The basic problem is that the salmon which are coming here are not able to get back up to their own rivers because so many of them are being caught up in nets along the west coast of Ireland,” Mr Powell added.
The Department of the Marine pointed out that there has been a decline in all types of activity holidays, not just salmon fishing. “The minister does not accept that the Government’s policy on the exploitation of wild salmon is to blame for a decrease in angling tourists,” a spokesperson added.
*The Salmon & Sea Trout Recreational Anglers of Ireland will hold a protest at the FF Cabinet meeting in Cork on April 6 to pressure the Government to stop drift net fishing.
