Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
182. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the use of minnow (phoxinus phoxinus) is deemed to be a permissible dead bait under the Waterford Fisheries District (River Barrow) Angling Limitations during Salmon Spawning Run Bye-law (No. 1011) 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68977/25]
View answerThe purpose of Bye-law No. 1011 of 2024 is to prevent anglers catching pre-spawned salmon or returning kelts during their migration to and from spawning grounds through the River Barrow system during the months of January, October, November and December each year. This Bye-law was introduced as an additional protection measure to salmon by prohibiting angling, other than angling with dead bait. It was deemed that dead baiting is unlikely to target accidental catching of salmon. Dead bait is defined as a dead fish. Therefore, the use of dead minnow is deemed to be a permissible dead bait under this bye-law.
