Inland Fisheries Ireland has suspended salmon fishing in the Galway Fishery area effective immediately due to the effects of the weather.
Salmon angling at both the Galway Fishery in the city, and the Moy Fishery in Ballina, have been suspended by the IFI.
This has been due to the prolonged period of warm dry weather, with water temperatures exceeding 20C, which could lead to fish kills.
Freshwater fish species such as salmon and trout can suffer ‘thermal stress’ arising from the impact of adverse warm weather on them.
Barry Fox Head of Operations at IFI commented, “Salmon need cold and clean water to survive and thrive. Low water volumes and high water temperatures can lead to fish kills, as there is less oxygen in the water to allow them to breathe.
“We must now implement our cessation of angling protocols at the Moy and Galway fisheries to protect salmon.”
“It will take some time before water conditions at both locations will revert to normal for the month of June. We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis before reopening the facilities.”
Both the Moy and Galway fisheries are owned by the State, and operated by IFI.
The prolonged period of warm and dry weather has also led to water restrictions being imposed on numerous areas around the county.
Uisce Eireann has imposed night-time water restrictions in multiple areas to preserve reservoir levels.
