Bye-laws to help conserve stocks of wild salmon in Mayo waters ^Featured

Minister O’Dowd has approved a suite of regulations and bye-laws that will govern the wild salmon fishery in 2012.

These will come into effect from Sunday 1 January 2012.

The Newport River, Lough Beltra and Crumpaun River are included in the 17 Statutory instruments/Bye-Laws that give effect to the decisions made by the Minister of State for management of the salmon fishery in 2012.

Conservation of Salmon and Sea trout (Newport River) Bye-law No. 892, 2011 provides for catch and release in respect of Salmon and Sea Trout (over 40 cm) in the Newport River including the waters of Lough Beltra and the Crumpaun River, Co Mayo during the period 20 March to 11 May, 2012.

From 12 May onwards anglers are permitted to take fish up to the limits specified in the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Bye-law No. 885 (Bag limit).

The magnificent 17lbs salmon caught and released by Jonathan Murray on Lough Beltra in March 2011..

The Minister also announced a number of amendments to the cost of licence fees in 2012, including a reduction in ordinary licences, district licences, twenty-one day licences, juvenile licences and special local licences on the recommendation of Inland Fisheries Ireland.

“My aim is to encourage sales of annual ordinary licences and increase the perceived value of that licence. I have also decided to reduce the twenty-one day licence by 13% to incentivise angling tourists to avail of the first-class angling product offered in Ireland” said Minister O’Dowd.

The Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations for 2012 are in essence unchanged from the Regulations which were introduced for  2011. A number of minor amendments to the Regulations, recommended by Inland Fisheries Ireland, will provide for more effective administration of the tagging scheme regulations in 2012.