Angling Notes/Derek Evans: Ireland has given a strong commitment that by next year it will end drift-netting, which will place it in line with scientific advice.
It also mean fisheries will only take place in estuaries and rivers on stocks shown to be above the conservation limit, the head of the EU delegation, Alan Gray, told the annual meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (Nasco) in Saariselka, Finland, earlier this month, according to Niall Greene, chairman of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now campaign.
Nasco also confirmed its commitment to the Salsea project, set up to establish the causes of increasing mortality rates among salmon at sea. The proposal includes ideas for the pooling of resources between the north Atlantic nations to tackle the mystery of near-shore migration and survival; refining genetic fingerprinting techniques capable of assigning salmon caught at sea to their country and river of origin, and a communications package to distribute information gained to interested parties.
The project will also involve novel fish-tracing technologies involving data storage units capable of tracking temperatures, depth and geo-location every hour that the fish is at sea. It will also include a collection of a range of biological, genetic and physiological data on migrating salmon, and use of DNA to identify various stocks at sea. The meeting also adopted a new approach to national plans for implementing agreements, which involves governments reporting the results of their efforts.
In addition to Irish Government representatives, Noel Carr of the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers, Paddy Byrne of the National Anglers' Representative Association and Niall Greene of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now, attended the meeting. Dr Ken Whelan of Ireland's Marine Institute was re-elected chairman of Nasco.
• Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and marine spokesman John Perry TD, will host a half-day conference in the Connemara Coast Hotel, Furbo, Co Galway, this Friday, from 9am to 1pm. Entitled, Marine and the Irish Economy - An Untapped Resource, the conference will include discussion on Fine Gael's promise to rejuvenate the fishing industry and promote growth in the marine sector.
There is no admission charge and lunch will be free. Registration by Wednesday. Contact john.perry@oireachtas.ie or 01-6183971.
• Hallelujah, after five and a half months, the first two recorded salmon have been caught on the River Liffey. Ten days ago, Michael Christian from Dublin caught a 6.4kg at the CPI fishery at Lucan and, last Saturday week, the same angler recorded a second fish of 4.5kg from the same venue. Both fish fell to Flying 'C'.
• Little or no fly-life on the surface contributed to poor returns at last weekend's 52nd Leinster Provincial Fly-fishing Championships on Lough Owel, Co Westmeath. Hosted by Lough Owel Trout Preservation Association, the competition attracted 140 anglers with 34 managing 44 trout.
Local angler Colin Cahill (Lough Bane AC) topped the day with three fish for 2.1kg, followed closely by Gerry Heaslip (Dodder AC), also with three, and Gary Coakley (Dublin Trout AC), with a similar catch.
• Ireland's Dudley Murphy was just pipped for individual top honours in the recent Home International Fly Fishing Championships on Lough Lein, Killarney, Co Kerry. Murphy, from Cork, showed great skill to finish with seven fish, just one ounce behind Michael Ward from Scotland.
Captain of the 14-strong Irish panel, Murphy guided his team to runner-up position behind England, with an total of 52 fish.
Results: 1, England (55) fish; 2, Ireland (52f); 3, Scotland (49f); 4, Wales (26f). Heaviest trout, David Lang, England (0.5kg).
• Howth anglers enjoyed top-class boat angling recently out from Ballyhack on the Hook Peninsula in Co Wexford. Fishing aboard the Orinoco and Wild Swan, the group of 18 managed a total of 285 codling, some to 2kg, ling, whiting, pouting, wrasse, gurnard and plenty of mackerel.
Seamus McBride caught one of the biggest gurnard I have ever seen but before a photo could be taken, he released the fish. It was at least 2.3kg. Only fish for personal consumption were retained. Contact 087-6781245 or 051-389242 for bookings.
Slack tides and good weather allowed a series of wrecking trips this month for charter skipper Mark Gannon from Courtmacsherry, west Cork. On June 2nd, a group of Dutch and Irish anglers on the Lady Louise caught 65 congers up to 17.2kg, medium ling, pollack and five coalfish. On June 4th and 6th, Rini Anemaet, Hans Dyke and Niall O'Sullivan caught a further three specimen coalfish, the heaviest reaching 9.8kg. Contact csal@iol.ie
• Excellent weather gave ideal conditions for the annual Stella Maris two-day Leinster Boat Competition at Cahore, Co Wexford, recently. Species caught included tope, ray, smoothhound, bull huss and dogfish. All fish were returned to the water.
Results: 1, J Byrne (Stella Maris); 2, D Mahon (Cahore); 3, P Brierley (Blackrock); T Boyle (Greystones Ridge); 5, M Elliott (Howth).