Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

Countryside Alliance Ireland welcomes and supports the Green Party call to the public to save the Irish Salmon.

We have been supporting Stop Irish Drift Nets Now campaign since its conception and have campaigned tenaciously to make the Irish government aware of the dangers and possible extinction that is facing the Atlantic Salmon.

The greatest threat of extinction comes from the fact that Drift nets are still being used and approved by government to maintain a tradition that is unsustainable. With salmon numbers returning to our rivers drastically low we need government to introduce conservation measures now that will provide a future for one of our national fish.

The government has continued to ignore the reort issued by the National Salmon Commission stating that the sustainable catch for Wild Salmon in 2005 should be no more than 97,000 for nets and 27,500 by rod anglers. The fisheries boards and fishing industry representatives voted for a larger quota of 139,000 fish to be caught by net.

This quota is unsustainable and will leave the wild salmon at a level where it may never return to our shores.

Countyside Alliance Ireland is asking the Minister to reconsider this quota level and further reduce the level of salmon caught in nets below that recommended by the National Salmon Commission.

The financial impact of reducing the number of salmon caught in nets will be minimal as the resale value of net caught salmon is relatively low. Whereas the financial reward for local businesses and the tourist industry for salmon caught by rod is high.

The Green Party campaign continues with postcards being handed out in all major towns and cities througout Ireland.

Countryside Alliance Ireland will actively participate in the consultation and make your voice heard in government.

Support the Salmon by sending a email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

We suggest that you submit the following as part of your response;

1. I object to the commercial quota of 139,000 fish proposed in the draft regulations for the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme 2005.
2. Iwould prefer if we ended the indiscriminate drift-netting of salmon at sea. Failing that, I ask that you at least heed the clear scientific advice that is available to you.
3. This requires you to limit the total commercial catch to 97,000 salmon for this year, in order to maintain current conservation levels.
4. It is in all our interests not to push this remarkable creature into extinction.
5. Also Supply you Name and Address

           Name..........................................

           Address.......................................

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