Salmon Conservation Stamp
INTRODUCTION
The ‘Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund’ is generated from the sale of angling and commercial salmon licences. It was established in December 2006 as a means of funding a programme for the rehabilitation of salmon rivers. The Fund represents a major contribution by licence holders to wild salmon conservation. The Central Fisheries Board (CFB) was tasked by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) with co-ordinating the funding and the Regional Fisheries Boards were tasked with implementing projects on the ground. There are 148 listed salmon rivers in Ireland a number of which are below their conservation limit. In the first instance priority is given to rivers below their conservation limits in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and which have the greatest prospect of recovery. However other rivers and programmes have also been considered.
Background
Ireland has entered a new era in the way it manages its Atlantic salmon stocks. In 2006 the Government decided to adopt the key recommendations of the report by the Independent Working Group on Salmon which led to the cessation of the mixed stock interceptory fishery at sea and the closure to recreational angling on all salmon rivers deemed to be below conservation limit. Rivers meeting between 65% and 100% of the conservation limit were opened on a catch and release basis only. The Government’s main reason for adopting the report was to conserve our endangered wild salmon stocks. The Salmon has long been regarded as one of Ireland’s most prized fish and valued as a cultural and economic resource.
Conservation Limit
A ‘conservation limit’ is the number of spawning salmon required to ensure that salmon are reproducing in sufficient quantities to produce the next generation of salmon. This is developed using a range of scientific indices.
Administering the Fund
The ‘Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund’ is being managed by a committee comprised of CFB scientists and Regional Fisheries Board representatives who receive project applications from the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. Each project is assessed and scored based on the river’s conservation limit status, its special area of conservation (SAC) status, its water quality (Q-value) and the maximum potential benefits to the river. Those projects recommended for funding are then forwarded to the CEOs of the relevant Regional Fisheries Boards for final approval.
The revenue generated from the Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund is reinvested to promote the recovery of our salmon stocks and habitats taking into account project feasibility, funding availability and value for money considerations.
Project Applications
In 2007, the implementation committee received 64 project proposals from the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards requesting a total of €1,253,500. Each project was assessed according to the criteria identified above and a numeric score was attached to each criterion. €637,000 was collected in 2007 and allocated to 34 qualifying projects the bulk of which were carried out in 2008.
In 2008, the implementation committee received 39 project proposals from the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards requesting a total of €2,814,585. €700,000* was collected and allocated to qualifying projects which will be carried out in 2009.
(* This figure will be finalised in early 2009)
Download the complete brochure: Salmon Conservation Stamp Fund [.pdf, 573 KB]