Anglers
Government of Nova Scotia impose ban on keeping salmon caught in response to dwindling numbers
Leo Casey from Dublin with a fine 13lbs 4oz Galway salmon taken on the fly, April 2015
Leo Casey from Dublin with a fine 13lbs 4oz Galway salmon taken on the fly, April 2015
Derek Evans
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Mon, May 4, 2015, 00:00
First published:
Mon, May 4, 2015, 00:00
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ANGLERS will not be allowed to keep any Atlantic salmon caught in the Maritimes in 2015, according to CBC News in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia. The conservation measure was announced recently by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, Gail Shea, in response to dwindling salmon numbers.
The announcement extends to all waters of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia where salmon angling was permitted. However, fishing will still be allowed, but only on a catch and release basis.
In 2014, the numbers returning to the Miramichi River was a dismal 12,000. In contrast, in the first 10 years of this century, 53,000 salmon returned annually and, in the 1990s, up to 82,000 returned to spawn.
The stark drop in salmon numbers led the minister to announce the creation of a ministerial advisory committee on Atlantic salmon. The first series of recommendations from this committee led to the catch and release policy for 2015.
These are frightening numbers, Miramichi Salmon Association chairman David Wilson said following the count release for last year.
Fisheries’ Fund open
In Ireland, the Minister of State for Natural Resources, Joe McHugh, has announced the 2015 Salmon Conservation Fund and Midland Fisheries Fund are now open for applications. In total, 240,000 is available to develop the inland fisheries resource from funds generated through the sale of salmon licences and midland fisheries’ permits.
The schemes administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland will facilitate clubs, fishery owners and commercial salmon fishers to undertake works to improve habitat, stocks, access, invasive species management and angling.
Some wonderful projects have been supported since these funds were established and I encourage all those interested to investigate the possibilities under the various schemes to promote their local fisheries, the Minister said.
2015 THE IRISH TIMES