IFI needs to take urgent action to save remaining Blackwater salmon

I was to express deep misgivings and concerns of the majority of anglers in the Blackwater Valley have regarding the future of the river as a salmon river.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), as a a result of its policies, is presiding over a situation in direct contravention of its collective and individual legal obligation to protect and conserve the North Atlantic salmon stocks in the Blackwater.

I have worked full time on the Blackwater for eight years, my job is a humble ghillie on the Ballymaquirke Fishery near Banteer c.3miles south of Kanturk. My employer is Brian Murphy O’Connor, Waterfall, Co Cork. He is an accomplished salmon angler who has had the fishery for about 30 years, it comprises some 20 named pools, being nearly two miles of prime water.