Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is suspending salmon angling at the Moy fishery in Ballina, Co Mayo and the Galway fishery in Galway city, due to prolonged warm and dry weather conditions.
Recent dry and hot weather has caused water temperatures to exceed the 20C threshold in both locations over a number of days.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, freshwater fish species such as salmon and trout can suffer ‘thermal stress’ arising from the impact of adverse warm weather.
Barry Fox, head of operations at IFI said: “Salmon need cold and clean water to survive and thrive. Low water volumes and high water temperatures can lead to fish kills, as there is less oxygen in the water to allow them to breathe.
“We must now implement our cessation of angling protocols at the Moy and Galway fisheries to protect salmon. It will take some time before water conditions at both locations will revert to normal for the month of June. We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis before reopening the facilities.”
Both the Moy and Galway fisheries are owned by the State and operated by IFI.
Other State-owned fisheries are being monitored currently. These will be closed if and when they meet an appropriate threshold where cessation of angling must be enforced.
IFI is mandated, as a national conservation agency, to protect the welfare of fish.
Anyone who encounters distressed fish, fish kills, illegal fishing or pollution can contact our confidential 24/7 number on 0818 34 74 24 or email us at [email protected].
Anglers with bookings on the Moy Fishery in the coming days can contact 096 21332 or [email protected] for more information. Those with bookings on the Galway Fishery can contact 091 562388, or email [email protected].
Details of the reopening of both fisheries will be published via IFI’s website fisheriesireland.ie and on its social media channels.
