Two distinguished salmon activists have received the highest accolade for their outstanding contribution towards conservation of the Atlantic salmon. At a function in Reykjavik last week, the president of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, awarded the Order of the Falcon Knighthood to Noel Carr from Donegal and Marc-Adrien Marcellier from Paris.
As a leading figure in Irish angling circles for many years, Carr is currently national secretary of the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers (Fissta), and a member of the Irish National Salmon Commission (INSC). Fissta is a founder-member of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) and a consistent front-runner in the campaign to reform the Irish salmon industry.
Marcellier has been one of NASF's leading workers for 14 years and is particularly active in liaising with the French authorities. He is a board member of the Association Internationale de Defense du Saumon Atlantique, an international angler and member of the historic London-based Flyfishers' Club.
• A Co Wexford reader takes issue with an article in The Irish Timesentitled "Fish Farm Parasites" (December 15th). Are we to presume that drift-net fishermen will receive apologies for being wrongly accused of being the cause of the decline in salmon stocks? he asks.
Money is the governing factor, he says, with the farmers of battery-caged salmon in the driving seat. There was little, if any, problem until that industry mushroomed. Their product is unnatural, containing as it does factory-made food, additives, chemicals, flesh-colouring material and much else.
"I cringe when reading the words 'darne of salmon' on a restaurant menu," he said.
• My thanks to John Murphy, fisheries manager with the Waterville Fisheries Development Group, for providing a synopsis of angling in the region for the 2007 season. The spring salmon season was affected by a lack of anglers and, from March to June, low water levels were compounded with high water temperatures, he said. The spring sea trout run saw some excellent catches in April and May, capped by a wonderful sea trout by Denis Bennett at 5.2kg in April.
In July, the weather broke and while summer salmon and juvenile sea trout entered the system, angling did not reflect the increased runs. The main salmon run entered in August and September, with the Butler Pool providing exceptional fishing.An encouraging aspect was the capture of a magnificent fresh fish of 7.3kg late in the month.
Overall, high water temperatures marred the season, but one good effect of this was the survival of large numbers of fish that ran in on the high water. The resulting spawning escapement was exceptional, with sea trout up to 2.7kg on the spawning beds. "Salmon are also in excellent numbers throughout the catchment and we expect a good spawning year," said Murphy.
Improved facilities are forecast for Waterville next season, with extra boats available on the upper lakes; the upgraded hatchery will incorporate a small audio-visual display to allow visitors to experience the life stages of the salmon. Last year the hatchery produced 50,000 parr, and 2008 will see the return of the first release three years ago. For more information go to www.loughcurrane.com
• Up to the time of writing, there were no reports of salmon caught on the River Drowes, according to Shane Gallagher, fisheries manager of Lareen Fishery, Kinlough, Co Leitrim. More than 200 anglers turned out on New Year's Day and a similar turnout was expected last weekend, he said.
• The final of the Scierra-sponsored fly-fishing winter league at Annamoe Trout Fishery in Co Wicklow produced a total of 48 rainbow trout by 17 of the participating finalists. First prize of a season ticket for the fishery and Christmas hamper was won by Dodder Angling Club member Alan Delaney from Dublin with seven fish, most of which fell to a gold head Viva on an intermediate line.
Results: 1. A Delaney, 7 fish; 2. K Elliott, 7 fish; 3. T McCrave, 4 fish.
• A group from Howth Sea Angling Club enjoyed an evening's fishing at Ennariley south beach in Co Wicklow last Saturday week, when they caught and released a selection of whiting and flounder and a surprise thornback ray of 1.5kg by Brian Duffy.