Conservation/Legislation & Bye-Laws for Ireland's Shannon Region to 2010

There are a myriad of Fisheries Bye laws under the Fisheries Acts which are in many cases specific to a particular fishery. These are listed where relevant on a fishery by fishery basis in our Fishing Guides Angling sections. For details of the Fisheries Acts and other important related links and resources see

THE IRISH STATUTE BOOK - 1959 ACT

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NITRATES DIRECTIVE IN IRELAND

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE IN IRELAND

SHANNON (IRBD)  RIVER BASIN PROJECT

The following is an overview of the important Angling Regulations/Bye Laws which cover fishing in the Shannon region and nationally. For others, please check with us.  

• The only legal method to catch freshwater fish is by rod and line (Bye-law No.595)

• A person may fish with not more than two rods at any time (Bye-law No.595)

• It is illegal to transfer live roach from one water to any other waters. (Bye-law No.561)

• It is prohibited to kill more than 1 pike in any one day. (Bye-law No.809, 2006)

• A person shall not take and kill by any means more than 4 coarse fish on any one day (Bye-law No.806, 2006)

• Salmon & Sea Trout Conservation Measures for 2009 - see recent Bye Laws and SI's below.

The new pike bye-law (bye-law 809) provides for:

• A bag limit of one pike in any one day

• A ban on the killing of any pike greater than 50cm in length

• A ban on the possession of more than one pike less than 50cm in length or more than .75kg of pike flesh. This provision does not apply to anyone storing pike or pike parts subject to conditions

• A ban on the possession of more than 12 coarse fish for use as bait subject to conditions.

CONSERVATION OF AND PROHIBITION ON SALE OF COARSE FISH BYE-LAW NO.  806, 2006 

• A person shall not take and kill by any means more than 4 coarse fish on any one day.

• A person shall not take or kill by any means any coarse fish greater than 25 cm in length measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail

• Any coarse fish taken inadvertently in contravention of this Bye-law must be handled carefully and returned without avoidable injury to the waters from which they have been taken

• it is prohibited for any person, other than in the Louth Area or Moville Area, to sell or offer for sale any coarse fish caught by any means.

• "Louth Area" has the meaning assigned to it by section 31 of the British - Irish Agreement Act 1999 (No. 1 of 1999)

• "Moville Area" has the meaning assigned to it by section to it by section 2 of the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952 (No.5 of 1952)

• it is prohibited to use or attempt to use live fish as bait in fishing in fresh water

• it is prohibited to transfer for any purpose live roach (Rutilus rutilus) from any waters to any other waters

• it is prohibited to fish for coarse fish by any means whatsoever other than by rod and line

• A person may not attempt to fish for coarse fish in freshwater with more than two (2) rods at any one time.

• A copy of the Bye-laws governing the above regulations can be

  These laws were introduced in order that all anglers will continue to enjoy excellent sport on all our rivers and lakes and we require your co-operation in ensuring they are adhered to

   

  SALMON & OTHER RELATED ANGLING  BYE LAWS & STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS  APPLICABLE FOR 2010

  CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE WILD SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHERY IN 2010

  Dublin, December, 2009
  The Minister for Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan T.D., has approved a suite of regulations and bye-laws that will govern the wild salmon fishery in 2010. These will come into effect from the first day of January 2010.
  The maintenance of all existing controls relating to the wild salmon fishery will apply again in 2010. This is following the receipt of management advice based on the scientific analysis on current Irish salmon stock levels,
  Minister Lenihan said “a total allowable catch is to be permitted for 50 rivers in 2010. This is two more rivers than last year.” Four rivers which were closed in 2009 are open for harvest in 2010 - the Maine, Croanshagh, Ferta (Kerry district) and Culfin (Ballinakill district). Two rivers which were open in 2009 will be closed in 2010 (Glengariff (Cork district); Blackwater (Kerry district).

  11 rivers are open only to angling on a ‘catch and release’ basis because of the status of stocks. There are 80 rivers closed to fishing as salmon stocks are not meeting conservation limits.
  In regard to the scientific analysis of salmon stocks the Minister said “the analysis shows that with the exception of a number of rivers, virtually all indices, including counters, continued to fall in 2009. This reflects the persistent downward trend in marine survival which is pervasive throughout all the North Atlantic stock complexes as reported by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Significantly, Irish marine survival indices are at their lowest since records began in the 1980s and appear to be declining further.”
  “We must continue in our efforts to protect this splendid species for future generations” the Minister added when commending the management and staff of the fisheries boards for their efforts during the year and extending his best wishes for the New Year.

  Full details of the regulations can be found below

  REVISED DUTIES FOR SALMON ROD LICENCES 2010

  SALMON ROD ORDINARY LICENCES ( alteration of licence duties) ORDER 2009

  CLOSED SALMON FISHERIES 2010

  CONSERVATION OF SALMON AND SEA TROUT BYE LAW NO. C.S. 304, 2009 (Closed Rivers).

  This Bye-law prohibits the taking or attempting to take by rod and line salmon and sea trout over 40 cm in the rivers specified in the Bye-law.

  NB: The only Rivers open to Salmon angling in the Shannon Fisheries Region in 2010 are the River Mulcair and the River Feale ( including Brick & Galey) and these are subject to quotas as part of the on-going Salmon conservation measures. Limited Salmon fishing is permitted in parts of the lower Shannon on a Catch and Release basis, including Castleconnell Salmon Fishery - see relevant Bye Laws listed under the heading OTHER PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IN THE SHANNON REGION. Closed rivers in the Shannon Region are the Rivers Deel, Owenagarney, Skivileen, Aughyvackeen, Doonbeg, Annageeragh, Inagh, Fergus, Maigue and River Shannon (excluding Mulkear)

  TAGGING SCHEME 2010

  WILD SALMON AND SEA TROUT TAGGING SCHEME REGULATIONS, 2009

  These regulations provide for, among other things, the quotas of fish that can be harvested by commercial fishing engines and rod and line from the waters of those rivers identified in Schedule 2. The Regulations also provide for the use of brown tags in the waters of specified rivers which are identified in Schedule 4. These regulations are applicable from January 1st, 2010.

  THE LOGBOOK SCHEME
  On receipt of tags the angler will receive a logbook. Details of the gill tags issued to an angler will be entered into the angler’s logbook by the issuing agent.
  
  Each fisherman shall:
  Have the logbook in his/her possession while fishing for salmon or sea trout
  Record all details of their catch in their logbook immediately after tagging the fish
  Make a catch record even if the fish is released
  Record details of any lost or damaged tags
  Declare lost or damaged logbooks to the relevant Regional Fisheries Board. 

  RETURNING LOGBOOKS AND UNUSED TAGS
  In accordance with the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Regulations anglers are required by law to return their completed logbook (even if there is no catch recorded) and all unused tags to the issuing Regional Fisheries Board by the 19th October of the relevant year. A business reply envelope is provided for this purpose.

  Anglers are required to obtain proof of postage and to retain such proof for 12 months.

  Anglers are prohibited from selling salmon (any size) or sea trout (any size) caught by rod and line.
  
  These guidelines have been prepared for information purposes only and do not purport to be a legal interpretation. The holder of a rod licence should familiarise himself or herself with the Tagging Scheme Bye Law applicable - see below applicable Bye Laws for 2010.

  BAG LIMITS

  CONSERVATION OF SALMON AND SEA TROUT (BAG LIMITS) BYE LAW NO. 864, 2009

  This Bye-Law provides for an annual bag limit of 10 fish being either salmon or sea trout (over 40 cm) per angler for the 2010 season as follows.

  • a season bag limit of 3 fish in the period 1 January to 11 May,

  • a daily bag limit of 3 fish from 12 May to 31 August

  • a daily bag limit of 1 fish from 1 September to the end of the season.

  • The Bye-law also provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait once the specified number of fish have been caught in the specified periods. This reduces fish mortality rate.

  CATCH AND RELEASE

  CONSERVATION OF SALMON AND SEA TROUT (CATCH AND RELEASE) BYE LAW NO. 863, 2009

  This Bye-law provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the rivers mentioned in the Bye-law in 2010. The Byelaw also provides for the use of single barbless hooks and prohibits the use of worms as bait in angling for salmon and sea trout over 40 cm.  

  FOUL HOOKING OF SALMON BYE LAW

  PROHIBITION OF FOUL HOOKING BYE LAW NO. 847, 2008

  This bye-law prohibits the killing and possession of foul hooked fish in any fishery district. in relation to foul hooking of salmon which prohibits the killing and possession of foul hooked fish (i.e fish not hooked in the mouth) in any fishery district in any year.

  ON THE SPOT FINES

  INLAND FISHERIES (Fixed payment Notice) REGULATIONS, 2009 (S.I. No. 560, 2009) (On the spot fines)

  These Regulations modify the system of on the spot fines in respect of inland fisheries administered by the regional fisheries boards.

  OTHER PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IN THE SHANNON REGION

  CONSERVATION OF SALMON AND SEA TROUT BYE LAW NO. 853, 2009 (CATCH & RELEASE BYE LAW).

  This Bye-law provides for catch and release in respect of salmon and sea trout (over 40 cm) in the portion of the Lower Shannon from O’Brien’s Bridge downstream, on the downstream face of the bridge, to Thomond Bridge. The Bye-law also prohibits the use of worms as bait
  and any fish hooks other than barbless hooks in angling for salmon and trout in those waters.

  SHANNON FISHERIES REGION (Angling) BYE-LAW No. 825, 2007

  Angling from a boat for any kind of fish is prohibited in that section of the Lower River Shannon from Plassey Bridge adjoining the townlands of Sreelane in the County of Clare and Garraun in the County of Limerick to Thomand Bridge in the City of Limerick during the period commencing 1 March and ending on 30 September in any year.