IFI defends decision to close Moy Fishery due to warm weather

As temperatures in Mayo and across Ireland continue to rise, the effects are being felt in Ballina where the Moy Fishery has been closed for the day due to high water temperatures.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) notified anglers of the closure yesterday, stating that it will remain in place until further notice in accordance with its Warm Water Protocol.

IFI recorded two water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius over the past 24 hours and made the decision to close the fishery to protect fish from “potentially lethal stress”.

The Galway Fishery and Erriff Fishery were also closed.

In response, the Ballina Angling Centre has raised concerns about the Warm Water Protocol and the wider impact that closure has on Ballina.

The centre stated that the river is currently not at a low level and that oxygen levels in the water remain high.

“The conditions that genuinely threaten fish welfare simply do not exist on the Moy right now. This closure is not supported by science on the ground,” they said.

Branding the protocol as ‘entirely self invented’, the centre also said there is no transparent criteria or independent verification, and that no meaningful consultation had taken place with local stakeholders.

They have called on IFI to review its decision immediately, publish the data behind it, and engage with the local angling community before closing “one of Ireland’s most important fisheries on a whim”.

They also highlighted the wider economic impact of the closure on the town, including the knock-on effect on local businesses, guides, and accommodation providers, as well as visiting anglers who travel from across Ireland to fish the Moy.

“Cancellations, lost bookings, livelihoods affected - all based on a single metric applied with no common sense,” they said.

In a statement, IFI defended its decision, saying:

"Ireland’s rivers, lakes and coastal waters are vital national assets shaping our landscapes, supporting communities and sustaining unique biodiversity. Inland Fisheries Ireland, as the statutory body responsible for inland fisheries and sea angling, is committed to protecting, conserving and enhancing this resource for current and future generations.

"Recent dry and hot weather has caused water temperatures to exceed 20 degrees Celsius at the Moy Fishery in Ballina, which is closed for angling today (June 24th) due to these elevated water temperatures.

"The Moy Fishery will remain closed for angling until the threshold criteria to reopen it is achieved. In other words, when temperatures return to levels where fish will not be thermally stressed.

"Decisions to close State-owned fisheries due to elevated water temperatures are not taken lightly and are carried out in accordance with IFI's Warm Water Protocol.

"These decisions are directly in line with IFI's mission within its Statement of Strategy 2026-2030: 'We will conserve, protect, restore and advocate for our fisheries, habitats and biodiversity'.

"IFI's first strategic priority, 'Conserve', focuses on protecting and maintaining Ireland's fish populations through evidence-based policies and projects to conserve fish biodiversity.

"In relation to Atlantic salmon and brown/sea trout, current international best practices indicate that recreational angling should cease completely at water temperatures at or above 20 degrees Celsius. This is due to a growing body of scientific literature indicating that angling-related mortality increases dramatically at water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.

"The 'traffic light' system proposed by IFI's Warm Water Protocol Scientific Working Group is routinely advised and implemented in salmonid angling jurisdictions in other countries such as Canada, Scotland and the United States.

"IFI would like to advise of the possibility that other State fisheries within the Moy Catchment may also close in the coming days, as air temperatures of up to 30 degrees are forecast.

"More information about fishery closures and re-openings can be received by contacting the Ballina office on 096 21332, or by monitoring IFI's social media platforms."