Fisheries Protection

Tuesday, 3 March 2026

Ceisteanna (249)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

249. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he is aware of the serious local concern about the proposal from IFI to replace a well-regulated catch-and-release fishery with a full closure of the River Boyne under the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Regulations for 2026; if he will seek clarification from the IFI on the evidence supporting full closure rather than continued catch-and-release; the way in which poaching and pollution will be monitored without anglers present; the reason the River Boyne remained marked for closure despite changes to other rivers between draft regulations; and the way in which community, economic, and wellbeing impacts have been considered. [17065/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Independent scientific advice was received from the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) which assesses which rivers are likely to meet their conservation limits using probability thresholds. The TEGOS Report looked at 144 salmon rivers using a range of thresholds from 75% to 99% and sets out the status of each river at each threshold level in Table 5 of the Report, with a more detailed assessment in Appendix IV.

Overall, the classification of rivers as open, catch-and-release only, or closed is based on this probability-based scientific assessment carried out by TEGOS. Catch and release is proposed where adult forecast returns are at or are close to conservation limits. Closure is proposed where the assessment indicates a high probability that stocks will fail to meet their conservation limit, even in the absence of fishing. The TEGOS report indicates that the Boyne salmon stock is meeting only 10% of its conservation limit and the scientific advice for 2026, reflected in the proposed Regulation, is that the river is closed to fishing.

The draft Regulations published last November used an 85% probability threshold as a starting point for consultation with stakeholders. The Department received a significant response to the consultation. All responses were considered, together with the scientific advice, and some modifications were made to the draft Regulations, including the use of a 75% probability threshold.

While the status of a river can change depending on the threshold used, status of the Boyne is consistent across all threshold options assessed as shown below (from p. 25 of the TEGOS Report):

District	River	75%	80%	85%	90%	95%	99%
Drogheda	Boyne	Close	Close	Close	Close	Close	Close

I recognise that the closure of the salmon fishery on the River Boyne is disappointing for anglers and local communities, especially given the Boynes cultural and economic importance as a salmon river. I have been informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland that their staff will continue to exercise vigilance in patrolling the River Boyne for poaching and environmental issues in 2026.