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News from Wicklow GAA convention
A NEW fisheries protection rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was introduced to the fleet in Greystones last week as the local marina hosted the launch of the International Year of the Salmon.
The rib will serve the east coast and larger inland lakes in the Eastern River Basin District. Its introduction follows the launch of other RIBs around the country. Inland Fisheries Ireland is replacing its sea going fleet with 12 new Delta 780HX Maritime Protection RIBs, built by Delta in Manchester, to help ensure proper protection of salmon in the coastal waters of Ireland out to the 12 mile limit.
Sean Canney, Minister with responsibility for the inland fisheries sector, visited the marina last week for the launch of the International Year of the Salmon and to highlight the importance of fisheries protection, especially during migration along the coasts.
Atlantic salmon populations are widely distributed throughout Irish freshwaters with over 140 such systems designated as salmon rivers. While 240,000 Atlantic salmon returned to Ireland as part of the natural migration last year, representing the healthy condition of Irish river stocks, the numbers returning to Irish shores has decreased by over 70 per cent in recent decades. In the 1970s, the number of Atlantic salmon returning peaked at 1,800,000.
‘It is vital that we protect our valuable fisheries resource as environmental change and human impacts are placing salmon and other species at risk,’ said Minister Canney.
The International Year of the Salmon is a joint world-wide initiative of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation and the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, alongside other partners across the globe, creating an international framework for collaborative outreach and research.
During the year, Inland Fisheries Ireland will introduce a commemorative salmon licence which will include updated information for anglers on catch and release angling. Carcass tags will also be rebranded while number of other awareness and outreach initiatives will be introduced in the New Year. These will be publicised both onyearofthesalmon.org and fisheriesireland.ie.