Fisheries Protection

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Questions (620)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

620. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he is aware of an Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) survey conducted in 2025 which notes that salmon stocks on the Boyne and Kells Blackwater rivers has seen a catastrophic collapse, down to 10% of the conservation limit for the catchments; if he will consider whether it appropriate at this time to publish an SAC management plan to aid the recovery of the Boyne/Kells Blackwater salmon to favourable status given that salmon are a qualifying interest in the Boyne/Kells Blackwater SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5616/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

While the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has obligations under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations in relation to the Qualifying Interests (QIs) for protected sites, the responsibility for finfish species (as set out in the Fourth Schedule of the Regulations and in Annex II and V of the Habitats Directive) is held by the Ministers of Government whose Departments are responsible for marine fisheries and freshwater fisheries, or public authorities under the aegis of those Departments. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the conservation, protection and management of our inland fisheries resources. IFI manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis, including in rivers that occur in Special Areas of Conservation. NPWS has no current plans to prepare a management plan for the SAC in question.