Fisheries Protection

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Ceisteanna (143)

Mairéad Farrell

Ceist:

143. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason the Owenriff (Barna) River system (No. 140) was not listed in Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-Law (No. C.S. 287) 2006, considering that 16 Atlantic salmon were harvested from the system in 2005 and a neighbouring system within the Galway District, the Knock River system (No. 142), produced no salmon in the same year but was closed under the aforementioned bye-law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51741/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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

I have been advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that all Irish river systems were surveyed in 2003 to determine presence of salmon or the potential to be utilised by salmonids. The Owenriff (South Galway) system was not categorised in the list of 144 designated salmon rivers in Ireland due to the lack of salmon recorded but it was separately categorised for its stock of sea trout. The Knock River (No. 142) recorded a stock of salmon and sea trout during surveys and was categorised accordingly.

In addition, there are 2 Owenriff Rivers in the Western River Basin District, the Owenriff River (No. 140) that flows into Galway Bay at Kilroe West between Spiddal and Inverin, and the Owenriff River that connects to the Corrib (No. 143) near Oughterard. IFI has advised the Department that the record of 16 Atlantic salmon attributed to the Owenriff (Barna) River therefore is likely a data input error at that time and should be recoded to the Owenriff River on the Corrib.

Question No. 144 answered with Question No. 142.