The Loughs Agency has confirmed it will retain a catch and release and tag system for the 2024 season.
The crossborder agency is responsible for waterways in most of north and east Donegal and said the measures are necessary due to falling fish numbers.
The tags signify the quantity of salmon that anglers are allowed to catch and retain, rather than putting back in the river. So it’s one blue tag between 1st March and 31st May, and two black tags between 1st June and 31st October.
Salmon carcass tag numbers for angling licence holders for the 2024 season in line with the policy followed in the previous three years.
“Based on the information collected in 2023, a continual fall in salmon numbers has been recorded year on year, and consequently, the precautionary approach previously adopted needs to be maintained,” a spokesperson for the agency said.
“The principal objective of this measure is to carefully manage salmon stocks in the Foyle and Carlingford systems due to concern from within the Agency over conservation levels of the species.”
In the majority of rivers throughout Ireland and in many locations globally, catch and release is now mandatory for salmon angling due to the pressures on sustainable populations. In these areas, no carcass tags are issued, and anglers are forbidden from retaining any fish.
“It is encouraging that most anglers in the Foyle and Carlingford areas are aware of these pressures, and now voluntarily practice catch and release,” the spokesperson added.
The Loughs Agency said it is continuously working to refine estimates of salmon stocks in the Foyle and Carlingford catchments.
If you have any concerns over illegal fishing or pollution within the Foyle or Carlingford catchments, please contact the 24hr Loughs Agency Response Line on +44 2871 342100.
