Who we are and what we do
Salmon Watch Ireland is a membership organisation dedicated to the restoration of salmon abundance in Ireland. It is the successor organisation to Stop Salmon Drifts Nets Now which, from 2004 to 2007, led the successful campaign for the abolition of mixed stock fishing for salmon (commonly known as drift netting) off the Irish coast.
Salmon Watch Ireland is a company limited by guarantee governed by the Companies Acts. The Memorandum of Association of the company adopted at its 2007 Annual General Meeting sets out the following objectives:
• To do all things necessary to contribute to the conservation and restoration to abundance of the wild Atlantic salmon and in particular to engage in research, training, education, advocacy and campaign programmes directed towards that end.
• To raise awareness among the public of the threat to stocks of wild salmon and the measures needed to restore salmon abundance, of the heritage, environmental, social, economic and recreational importance of achieving that objective and of the particular threat that would be posed to salmon stocks by any restoration of mixed stock fishing for salmon.
Salmon Watch Ireland is, therefore, dedicated to salmon conservation and is not a representative organisation for anglers – a role that is filled by the country’s game angling federations.
Salmon Watch Ireland is an approved NGO observer at the inter-governmental North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation and is affiliated to the Pure Salmon Campaign.
See all 2009 Releases here...
See all 2010 Releases here...
See all 2011 Releases here...
See all 2012 Releases here...
Recent news/Updates
22nd February 2013
"Call from the Wild, The Price of Salmon"
Check out the following YouTube links, The program "Call from the Wild, The Price of Salmon" was transmitted by BBC2
on the 7th of January 2001, pretty alarming stuff.
Has anything really changed since 2001?
The Salmon Farms proposed for the west coast of Ireland are a real risk to our Atlantic Salmon.
The Price of Salmon, Part 1
The Price of Salmon, Part 2
The Price of Salmon, Part 3
The Price of Salmon, Part 4
Recent news/Updates
14th March 2013 - Sunday Times
"Lice have jeopardized wild salmon survival"
Response to article in Sunday Times 10th March 2013 from Bob Wemyss, P Fawl and John F Robbins.
Click here to read full responses...
21st January 2013 - from Salmon Watch Ireland
Galway Bay Fish Farm Protest March
Dear Supporter
Local groups in Galway and Aran Islands are organising a protest march in Galway on Saturday 2nd. March 2013.
This will coincide with the Skipper Expo which is taking place in Salthill and is sponsored by BIM...
As you may know BIM are applying for a licence to install a giant salmon farm in Galway Bay which will hold up to 4 million salmon
when fully operational. This is claimed to be the first of three giant salmon farms for the West coast of Ireland.
You can read submissions from Salmon Watch Ireland and others, against this application, by clicking here. We are greatly concerned that BIM
wrote their own Environmental Impact Study (EIS), that this EIS has downplayed, ignored or misrepresented the impact of this salmon farm
on our native wild salmon, that BIM are applying to their own Minister for the licence and that they believe that they do not need to
complete a screening and appropriate assessment required under the Habitats Directive.
We fear for the future of wild salmon stocks if this project goes ahead. While Salmon Watch has been fighting against the negative
effects of salmon farms for many years, particularly in EU, we need your feet on the street to press the message home to Government.
The march in Killarney in 2005 against drift-netting was a triumph for anglers and conservationists and you made the difference in that
campaign.
This rally is supported by all of the National angling bodies, yet is not controlled by any of these organisations. We need you and your
friends on the streets of Galway to protest against this project.
The rally will set out from Eyre Square, Galway at 12.00 noon. See you there.
Salmon Watch Ireland
10th December 2012 - Salmon Watch Ireland
Proposed Galway Bay Deep Sea Salmon Farm
Click here to read about the
in-depth objections to BIM's proposed Salmon Farm in Galway Bay...
This is a page devoted to a series of submissions, articles and web pages related to the campaign to halt the Salmon Farm.
It will be constantly updated.
Essential Reading!
30th December 2012
Submissions objecting to 'Foreshore & Aquaculture License Applications in Galway Bay T9/489 A & B.
Click here to go to Galway Bay Fish Farm page, and read submissions from:
1) Comhar Caomhán Teo
2) Cumann Iascairi Slait Arann agus na Gaillimhe,
3) Enda Conneely & Marie Conneely
4) Inis Oirr Inshore Fishermen
5) An Roiinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara