A public consultation has opened on proposals to protect Ireland’s wild Atlantic salmon and change how stocks are managed from the 2027 fishing season.
The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment says the number of wild salmon returning to Ireland has fallen from well over one million annually in the 1970s to fewer than 200,000 in recent years.
The consultation follows a review by Inland Fisheries Ireland and seeks views on measures including reduced recreational bag limits, restrictions on when salmon can be retained and additional protection for larger fish.
It also considers whether catch-and-release angling could be permitted on some rivers that would otherwise remain closed.
The proposals would operate alongside the existing river-by-river scientific assessment process. They have not yet been adopted.
Views are also being sought on longer-term recovery measures, including habitat improvements, water quality, barriers to migration and scientific monitoring.
The consultation closes at 5.30pm on Friday, October 30. Details and submission information are available on gov.ie under ‘Consultation on proposals for the management of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Salmon Fisheries from 2027’.
