A wet and windy night and morning in Foxford. I try to avoid politics in the blog but something very important cropped up during the week and I feel I must mention it.
On 21 November 2025 Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, announced the launch of a public consultation on the draft Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations 2025
These draft regulations set out the proposed management arrangements for Ireland’s wild salmon and sea trout fisheries for the 2026 season, including river-by-river conservation measures.
This consultation is being held in line with the statutory requirement to make the draft regulations available for comment and invite views from all interested parties before final regulations are made. The consultation will be open for 30 days, closing at 5.30pm on 20 December. During this period, You have your opportunity to study the document and make any submissions you like.
Our phone has been red and I have been told by many people that they feel sorry for us because our business will be affected, as will all businesses in Foxford and the greater Moy Valley who depend on visiting anglers returning to the Moy. Very true, we are going to take a large hit if anglers vote with their feet and decide that if not allowed to kill Salmon, they will not visit the Moy to fish. I don’t believe all anglers will think like that though.
It is a huge subject and I could sit here ponder and write for hours but as I often say, this is just a little blog to keep us in touch over the winter and there are other forums for wider debate.
I will, put my head above the parapet and say that I welcome this document. Not for what it contains but for the fact that it opens a debate. Someone has finally bit the bullet; OK they did not just bite the bullet they chewed it up and spat it back at us all but I do not blame them. We as anglers spend a great deal of our time saying things like why don’t they? They do nothing? Stocks are crashing? this is a problem and that is a problem. Well, this draft proposes some definite action and not before time. If we as anglers embrace it and take time to make sensible submissions then the powers that be will have to listen. In my opinion this is a start and we as anglers should welcome it. Time for debate, planning, change and reform. In the big scheme we as anglers are ignored, we do not have the education or titles that government Ministers listen to, but if enough of us talk we may be heard. Reducing the “Kill” by anglers is one part but the three Ps Predation, Pollution and Poaching also need to be addressed.
Tiernan Brothers will make a submission; this submission will be based on our own experience and our ideas of how to improve the overall situation. There is no magic wand that can be waved and there will be sacrifices necessary. As important as business and money are to us, the survival of the Salmon and the waters they swim in is more important. I would urge everyone to put a few lines together and make a submission. I am putting a link here https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/consultations/wild-salmon-and-sea-trout-tagging-scheme-amendment-regulations-2025-and-conservation-measures-for-the-2026-season/
Comments to: mtiern@gmail.com
