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WILD SALMON & SEA TROUT STATISTICS 2009
The 2009 statistics show that the total number of salmon harvested by all methods was 24,278 – which represent a decrease of 22% on the total harvest recorded in 2008. 2009 proved a difficult year for both anglers and commercial fishermen with the deterioration in catches due to unfavourable fishing conditions, high water levels, marine survival rates and some late fish runs at key fishing periods.
The salmon angling harvest was 17,521 in 2009 which was only 31% of the TAC allocated to the sector, with an additional 11,422 salmon caught and released. Thus, of the 28,943 salmon caught, approximately 40% of the total catch was subsequently released. Although anglers and commercial fishermen experienced some difficult fishing periods, fish counter information reported good numbers of salmon moving up rivers during the main runs.
The 2009 commercial catch was 6,757 salmon and 45 sea trout (over 40 cm) which was only 37% of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) allocated to the sector. The biggest landings of salmon were in County Kerry on the River Laune with 24% of the commercial catch, in County Limerick on the River Feale with 18.5% of the commercial catch; and in County Cork on the River Lee with 17.5% of the commercial catch.
For the 2009 season, 72 rivers (including catch and release options) were open or partially open for fishing with 79 rivers completely closed in 2009. 2009 again witnessed a shift in the share of the harvest as between that of the recreational anglers and the commercial fishermen with commercial fishing accounting for 28% of the catch in 2009 (29% in 2008) and angling 72% (71% in 2008).
These statistics assist in generating important marketing information, by providing an insight into annual angling trends, helping to form the basis of marketing strategies and develop new angling initiatives. 18,314 salmon rod licences were sold to anglers from forty six different countries. Naturally the majority of licence sales (66%) were to residents within Ireland, 11% to Northern Ireland and a further 10% of angling licence sales to UK residents with a significant number of anglers also coming from France and Germany. 2009 was a very difficult year for all sectors of the economy and this was reflected by a decrease of 8.7% in rod licence sales compared with 2008.
Download the report: WILD SALMON & SEA TROUT STATISTICS 2009 [.pdf 5 MB]