As conveyed to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 125 of 15 October 2024, following concerns raised about the unexplained mortalities of more than 900 salmon found in the Ballysadare river, I introduced an Emergency Bye-Law on 17 July which suspended all angling activity in the waters of the Ballysadare River system in the No. 12 Sligo District with immediate effect. The Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers) Bye-law No. C.S. 336, 2024 was enacted as a precautionary and emergency measure against any potential spread of disease that could occur in the absence of information on the nature of the fish kill in the catchment. Given the urgent and emergency requirement for immediate action to prevent any potential disease spread that could occur, it was not possible in the time available for an appropriate assessment screening to be conducted and evaluated for the relevant urgent Bye-Laws.
Scientific investigations including laboratory results from the Marine Institute and IFI together with advice from The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine indicated that there was no evidence of notifiable diseases and/or transmissible diseases or general issues of concern in the samples analysed. On that basis the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Catch and Release) Bye-Law No. 1012, 2024 revokes the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers) Bye-law No. 336, 2024. Bye-law 1012, 2024 forms a component of the overall emergency fisheries management response following the significant Atlantic salmon mortality event in July, providing for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40cm) in the Ballysadare River.
