Donal Hickey: UCC study shows captive-bred salmon offer fewer offspring in wild

Salmon bred in hatcheries are often released into rivers, sometimes to increase the numbers of fish available for angling

Salmon Watch Ireland is opposed to the indiscriminate restocking of salmon rivers, but recognises that properly managed and science-based restocking may have a role to play.

Salmon reared in hatcheries do not breed as well as wild salmon, after being introduced into rivers, a new University College Cork (UCC) study has found.

Because of the massive decline in Atlantic salmon — a drop of about 75% in recent decades — captive-bred salmon are often released into rivers, sometimes to increase the numbers of fish available for angling.