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WILD SALMON & SEA TROUT STATISTICS 2010
The 2010 statistics show that the total number of salmon and sea trout caught by all methods was 51,637 and 2,265 respectively, which represent an increase of 45% on the total salmon catch recorded in 2009. 2010 proved an excellent year for both anglers and commercial fishermen with the increase in catches due to favourable fishing conditions, good water levels, marine survival rates and timely fish runs at key fishing periods.
The 2010 angling catch was 37,478 salmon and 2,198 sea trout. Thus of the
37,478 salmon caught by anglers, 22,336 were harvested and 15,142 subsequently
released. For the 2010 season, 66 rivers (including rivers open only for
catch and release angling) were open or partially open for
fishing, and 82 rivers were completely closed .The proposrtions of salmon
caught by recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen in 2010 were the
same as the proportions in 2009, with commercial fishing accounting for
28% of the catch in 2010 (28% in 2009) and angling 72% of the catch in 2010
(72% in 2009).
The 2010 commercial catch was 14,159 salmon and 67 sea trout (over 40 cm)
which represent 76.8% of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) allocated to the
commercial fishing sector. The biggest landings of commercial salmon catches
were in County Kerry on the River Laune with 24.9% of the commercial catch,
in County Limerick on the River Feale with 24.4% of the commercial catch;
in County Cork on the River Lee with 10.2% of the commercial catch; and
on the River Blackwater with 10.1% of the commercial catch.
These statistics assist in generating important marketing information,
by providing an insight into annual angling trends, helping to form the
basis of marketing strategies and develop new angling initiatives. 17,983
salmon rod licences were sold to anglers from forty six different countries.
Naturally the majority of licence sales (68%) were to residents within Ireland,
11% to Northern Ireland and a further 10% of angling licence sales to UK
residents with a significant number of anglers also coming from France and
Germany. 2010 proved a very difficult year for all sectors of the economy
and this was reflected by a decrease of 1.8% in rod licence sales compared
with 2009.
Download the report: WILD SALMON & SEA TROUT STATISTICS 2010 [.pdf 3.95 MB]