Change of nets won’t save salmon

A SIGNIFICANT milestone in the protection of the dwindling stocks of Atlantic salmon occurred in November 2006 when the then Marine Minister Noel Dempsey banned drift-netting for salmon off the Irish coast.

Despite sustained national and international scientific and conservation advice, Ireland was the last Atlantic rim country to take this vital measure to protect salmon.

Sadly, it now seems this long-awaited and belated measure is to be set at nought.