Draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations were published for public consultation in November 2025. The Department received a significant response to this consultation, with 326 submissions being received from a range of stakeholders, including commercial licence holders. Last week I announced a second public consultation on the draft Regulations, providing stakeholders with a further opportunity to share their views before the regulations are finalised.
While the draft Regulations do not regulate licensing conditions for commercial salmon fishing, they do set out the proposed conservation measures, including the classification of rivers as open, open for catch and release or closed, and associated controls which impact commercial fishing.
Schedule 2 of the draft Regulations includes the proposed catch options and quotas on a river-by-river basis. The split in quota between the angling and commercial net fishing sectors will be informed by the relevant Fishery District Committee, which comprises representatives from commercial fishermen, salmon anglers, rated occupiers and an Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).
It is also proposed that the commercial fishing season is realigned to commence from 1 June and ending on 31 July in the interest of conserving spring fish (i.e. 2 Sea Winter and Multi Sea Winter fish) during their most vulnerable and biologically important period and to increase their chances of successfully reaching spawning grounds.
I would encourage all commercial licence holders to make a submission in response to the public consultation, so that any concerns may be taken into consideration before the Regulations are finalised.
