The prized Moy salmon, once regularly enjoyed by even the humblest household, has now been replaced by farmed salmon, which is also served in restaurants.
Cllr McLoughlin said he understood the conservation measures necessary to protect the dwindling stocks of wild salmon, but he believed that the issue was not insurmountable.
However, the issue would need to be addressed soon as part of renewed efforts by the Town Council to develop the Ballina's tourist trade and attract more visitors from Ireland and abroad, Cllr McLoughlin added..
Mayor of Ballina, Cllr Peter Clarke, Independent, was contacted by MayoToday.ie on Thursday and said it was "scandalous" that wild salmon was not available to restuarants in Ballina to serve to customers.
Cllr Clarke, whose family run the world famous Clarkes Salmon Smokery in Ballina, said the public were not fully aware of the fact that restaurants could not buy wild salmon.
"It is an absolute disgrace that you cannot buy a Moy salmon in Ballina - the Salmon Capital of Ireland," Mayor Clarke said.
"These foreign fishing boats then hoovered up all our salmon and cod which were a natural resource of this country and an integral part of our tourist business which is so vital to the future of Ballina and our country," Mayor Clarke said.
Under salmon and sea trout conservations regulations, all salmon fishing is banned in Killala Bay and anglers catching salmon on the River Moy are not allowed to sell the fish.
All anglers who intend fishing are required to be in possession of a valid licence, log book and tags.
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