Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications have suspended all fishing and angling on the Ballysadare System in Co Sligo due to concerns about more than 900 dead salmon found in an as yet unexplained incident in the Ballisodare River.
Minister Eamon Ryan introduced the Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout Ballysadare (Closed Rivers), Bye-law No. C.S. 336, 2024 into operation on Wednesday (17 July).
IFI says it is conducting a full environmental analysis of the catchment and awaits postmortem analysis of a number of salmon in order to determine the cause or causes of the deaths.
Both commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited on all waterways in the Ballysadare System, which begins east of Derkmore Point on Sligo Bay and includes Ballisodare River, Templehouse Lough, Ballygawley Lough and Arrow Lough.
The bye-law applies to all fish, shellfish, crabs and crustaceans on the Ballysadare System.
Commenting on IFI’s investigation, deputy CEO Dr Cathal Gallagher said: “IFI is continuing to find unexplained wild Atlantic salmon mortalities in the Ballysadare system, with 900 fish fatalities now recorded. These ongoing fish fatalities are highly concerning.
“IFI is awaiting the results of a catchment environmental analysis along with postmortem analysis of affected salmon, in seeking to understand the cause of these deaths.
“Currently, it is unknown whether or how the cause of these salmon deaths could be impacting other species of fish. The scale of these salmon deaths means we must take every precaution.”
Ongoing IFI investigations, alongside advice from partners and other environmental experts, will inform the length of time the bye-law prohibiting fishing is in effect, it added.
The bye-law and a map of the Ballysadare System waterways can be viewed and downloaded at the IFI website.
