The cross-border Loughs Agency has appealed to anglers and the general public to remain vigilant and report the presence of any Pacific pink salmon in Donegal over the coming months.
In 2017, 2019 and 2021 this non-native fish species unexpectedly appeared in unprecedented numbers in multiple river systems on the island of Ireland. A small number of confirmed pink salmon were observed in the Foyle system in 2021.
As pink salmon predominantly have a two-year lifecycle, there is potential for the species to reappear in Irish rivers again this year and every second so called ‘odd’ year thereafter.
Dr Sarah McLean, Head of Science at Loughs Agency said: “Loughs Agency is asking all anglers and other water users to be on the lookout for pink salmon and report any specimens encountered in the Foyle and Carlingford Catchments to Loughs Agency.
“We are also asking that, if possible, any specimens found are retained for the purposes of verification and advancing understanding on this species.
“We do not have enough information at this stage to fully evaluate the effect this non-native species will have on our native species but there is significant potential for negative impacts.”
Mature male pink salmon with characteristic humpback and spotted tail (photo credit: Eva Thorstad, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research)
Loughs Agency is appealing to anglers to report catches of pink salmon to the organisation 24 hours a day on +44 (0) 2871 342100. Anyone who catches a pink salmon is asked to:
- Keep the fish and do not release it back into the water (even in rivers only open for catch
and release angling) - Record the date and location of capture, and the length and weight of the fish
- If possible, on rivers where tags are issued and where anglers are in possession of tags, tag the fish and present it to Loughs Agency and a new tag will be issued to replace the tag used
- Take a photograph of the fish
A Pacific pink salmon (photo credit: Ola Ugeda)
Loughs Agency will then arrange collection of the fish for further examination. This will help establish the abundance and extent of distribution of the species in our waters.
Pink salmon are blue-green to steel blue on the back, with silver sides and a white underbelly. Pink salmon can be distinguished by a number of unique characteristics which are different to Atlantic salmon, notably:
- Large black oval spots on the tail
- 11-19 rays on the anal fin
- Very small scales – much smaller than a similarly sized Atlantic salmon
- No dark spots on the gill cover
- Upper jaw typically extending beyond the eye
- Males develop a pronounced humpback on entering freshwater
IFI has also developed an identification guide to help anglers and the general public identify pink salmon which can be viewed at: https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/sites/default/files/migrated/docman/Pink%20Salmon%20Alert%202019.pdf
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Inland Fisheries has also issued advice regarding detection of pink salmon in Northern Irish rivers: Notice to Anglers on Pacific, Pink Salmon | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
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