Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
186. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the rationale for treating the Suir river system as three distinct salmon fisheries for regulatory purposes; and if he will review this classification to ensure integrated management of the estuary, lower and upper river. [36129/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Suir, and three minor rivers that drain into the Suir estuary are integrated as a single salmon river system for assessment and subsequent provision of annual catch advice by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). The Suir river system is not treated as three distinct salmon fisheries for regulatory purposes, nor from a scientific catch advice point of view. A single provision of scientific catch advice is given annually for the Suir catchment.
The River Suir is divided into three water body classifications under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), Upper, Lower, and Estuary. This is due to differences in their ecological characteristics and the pressures they face. This work is undertaken by the EPA. These classifications help in targeted management and protection efforts. The WFD requires classifying water bodies based on their ecological characteristics and the pressures they experience to tailor management strategies.
