Fisheries Protection

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Ceisteanna (246)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

246. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason the Owenriff (Barna) River system No. 140, was not legislated for (details supplied) by either the conservation of salmon and sea trout (bag Limits) bye-law (No. 1023) 2026 or the angling bye-law (No.1022) 2026, considering that salmon were harvested by rod and line angling from the river in 2024 according to a report published by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34028/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

While small stocks of salmon and sea trout may be found in many rivers, not all such rivers are designated or managed as salmon rivers. Only designated rivers are subject to scientific assessment and catch advice from the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) in relation to in the context of annual conservation regulations and bye-laws.

The Owenriff (Barna) is not a designated salmon river and no conservation limit has been established for it. As a result, it is not included in either the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-Law No. 1023 of 2026 or the Angling Bye-Law No.1022 of 2026.

Following the publication of the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Statistics Report 2024 in October 2025, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) reviewed the relevant logbook entries, which confirmed that catches recorded as originating in the Owenriff (Barna) were in fact catches from the Owenriff (Oughterard) and were included as part of the Corrib count (143). IFI has since updated its records and this information has been incorporated into subsequent TEGOS assessments and modelling processes.