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BLACKWATER SALMON CONSERVATION GROUP. Blackwater Estuary Draft Net Buyout Scheme

I am sure that all anglers are aware of the criticism that the Irish Government is receiving from many quarters in it's salmon management policy (or rather lack of it!), particularly in regard to drift netting.  I am involved in both the above organisations.

The Blackwater Salmon Conservation Group has been responsible for setting aside the draft nets at the top of the tidal reaches of the Blackwater for 5 years from 2000 to 2004, which has allowed free passage for several thousand more fish into the Blackwater.
This set aside fund receives 50% grant aid from the Government (Department of Marine), and 50% is raised by those Riparian owners and rod anglers operating the Blackwater Salmon Conservation Fund by seeking donations from the rod angling sector.

We hope to be able to negotiate for a further period now this agreement has expired, 
but the fund is urgently in need of donations to meet it's present and future commitments.

Donations can be sent to Ian Powell at Blackwater Lodge (see above for contact details)

The Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now campaign is a new development which came from an inaugural meeting in late July 2004. I am on the National Steering Committee, & can assure everyone that if anything can be done about removing nets - this organisation is the one to do it. 

A huge amount of work has already been done, but the aim is to raise €50,000 by the end of this year 
to get the campaign properly up & running with a full-time executive.

Yes!  You've guessed right.  This is an appeal for people to dig into their pockets & make a useful contribution.
If every person who receives this email (there are 3,200 of you!) contributed a mere €20 to each organisation, 
the Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now campaign would exceed it's target for the year end, 
and the Blackwater would be draft net free for many years to come.  
Is that too much to ask? 

I have been disappointed to see the reaction of many people to the Irish Government's attitude.  Many seem to think that boycotting Ireland's wonderful fishing is the best way. It's certainly the easy option, but I can assure you that it doesn't have any influence on the Government, who neither appreciate the true value of a rod-caught salmon to the Irish economy nor see the economic loss of dwindling numbers of angling visitors.
It also only causes financial hardship to those of us who are trying so hard to get something done!

The autumn fishing on the Blackwater was a classic example of how good it still can be. Given no nets (season closed end of July), 
plenty of water & stormy weather to hamper any illegal netting activity, those lucky enough to be fishing at Blackwater Lodge 
helped to catch 852 salmon in a mere 48 days from August 14 to September 30. (see report on www.ireland-salmon-fishing.net/2004_season.) 
A good day's catch for a large drift net - a life-long memory for a lot of anglers

Now it's time to make this government realise the obvious - the only problem with salmon management lies in indiscriminate netting 
on migratory routes plundering a mixed fishery stock destined for rivers throughout Ireland, the southern UK, France & Spain.
Restrictions on the rod catch are only a proverbial drop in the ocean. 
To place limitations on a sector which accounts for barely 10% of the total catch is not going to solve the problem. 

The best analogy to the Government's policy is the guy who is worrying about 
the rain coming in through a crack in the window when he doesn't even have a roof on the house!

You can help!

Donate generously - A small financial contribution by many will equate to financial power for both organisations.
Visit the Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now campaign website, familiarise yourself with the facts and make your views known 
to those in the government who are responsible for the salmon management policies. Their contact details can be found on the site. 

New Irish Regulations

Salmon Carcass Tagging Scheme
Introduced by the Central Fisheries Board in 2001.
Click on the link above to go to their site for the exact information on the scheme.

Blackwater River Conservation measures.

There have been some interesting recent developments regarding conservation of salmon stocks in Britain & Ireland. Click on the links below for further information.

Proposed phase-out of all Northern Irish salmon netting.
North-Atlantic Salmon Fund - Press release - December 8, 2000

Four-stage plan to remove all of the sea nets that surround the UK and the Irish Republic.
North-Atlantic Salmon Fund - Press Release - December 21, 2000

Message to the ANGLING COMMUNITY OF IRELAND
From Orri Vigfussen (NASF) - December 31, 2000

A Light at the End of the Irish Drift Netting Tunnel?
From Orri Vigfussen (NASF) - February 14, 2000