Angling suspended after 900 unexplained salmon deaths in Sligo river
The Ballisodare River, part of the Ballysadare System.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications have suspended all fishing on the Ballysadare System in Co Sligo due to concerns about more than 900 unexplained salmon mortalities found in the Ballisodare River.
Eamon Ryan, who is the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications with responsibility for Inland Fisheries, brought the ‘Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers), Bye-law No. C.S. 336, 2024’ into operation on Wednesday last, July 17th. Details of the unexplained salmon deaths were first reported in last week's .
IFI is currently investigating the salmon mortalities and conducting a full environmental analysis of the catchment. It awaits postmortem analysis of a number of salmon in order to determine the cause or causes of the deaths.
Both commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited on all waterways in the Ballysadare System, which begins east of Derkmore Point on Sligo Bay and includes Ballisodare River, Templehouse Lough, Ballygawley Lough, and Arrow Lough.
The bye-law applies to all fish, shellfish, crabs and crustaceans on the Ballysadare System.
Commenting on IFI’s investigation, Dr Cathal Gallagher, Deputy Chief Executive of IFI, said: “IFI is continuing to find unexplained wild Atlantic salmon mortalities in the Ballysadare system, with 900 fish fatalities now recorded. These ongoing fish fatalities are highly concerning.
“IFI is awaiting the results of a catchment environmental analysis along with postmortem analysis of affected salmon, in seeking to understand the cause of these deaths.
“Currently, it is unknown whether or how the cause of these salmon deaths could be impacting other species of fish.
“The scale of these salmon deaths means we must take every precaution.”
Ongoing IFI investigations, alongside advice from partners and other environmental experts, will inform the length of time the bye-law prohibiting fishing is in effect.
The bye-law can be viewed and downloaded at the Inland Fisheries Ireland website.
IFI - the State agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats - continues to urge the public to report instances of fish kills, water pollution, habitat destruction, or illegal fishing to its confidential 24/7 number at 0818 34 74 24.
