Download UAF Skerries SAC Objection SAC 057 5-4-11

The Skerries and Causeway, Co Antrim, Draft Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 5-4-11
Ulster Angling Federation
Comment on Proposal
Skerries and Causeway, Co Antrim,
Proposal to Designate as Draft Special Area of Conservation
SAC 057
05/04/2011
Index
1
2
3
4
5
6
Background
The Resource of Angling
Salmon Populations
Priority Species
SAC Proposals
Summary
Appendix 1 Dublin Sunday Independent article 3-4-11
Appendix 2 Marine survival of R. Bush salmon
Appendix 3 Graph of Foyle Area adult salmon total populations
Abbreviations used in the text:
ICES
NASCO
NIEA
SAC
International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation
Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Special area of Conservation
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The Skerries and Causeway, Co Antrim, Draft Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 5-4-11
1
Background
The Ulster Angling Federation is the representative body for game angling associations in
Northern Ireland. We have a membership of some 60 associations with a total individual
membership of some 7,000 anglers. The Federation represents anglers in discussions with
Public Bodies, Government and other NGO’s and has been in existence since 1930. We are
represented on a wide range of committees to ensure the concerns of anglers are heard.
Our member Angling Associations are very concerned about the considerable increase in
seal populations along the coast, and the damage being done to migratory salmonid fish
populations as a result.
It is important that the natural integrity of salmonid populations is protected to allow
continuation of their natural ecology, not presently possible in light of the increase in seal
numbers. The following comments are made in that light.
2
The Resource of Angling
Local Angling Associations have worked extremely hard for many years to conserve,
protect, and enhance not only the fishery on rivers but also the entire river environment, for
the benefit of local people and increasingly, visitors. Countless (voluntary) man-hours and
hundreds of thousands of pounds have been spent to improve rivers and associated
fisheries: these Associations continue to provide a self-financing and voluntary communitybased effort to look after the rivers. A huge effort is now underway to protect and conserve
the trout and salmon – many sea nets have been retired and strict limits on rod catches
have been brought in.
The Pricewaterhouse Coopers Report of July 2007 for DCAL on the social and economic
value of angling in NI, states that all forms of angling in NI support some 780 full time
equivalent jobs, and are worth some £40m p.a. to the NI economy, mostly from game
angling. If this jobs/economic benefit is to maintained and enhanced, the provision of good
water habitat is absolutely vital for our fisheries.
The DCAL study highlighted the impressive record of angling in promoting a healthy,
outdoor activity with an almost unmatched record in eliminating sectarian influences. Angling
Associations are now responsible for selling large numbers of day tickets to visiting anglers
and are generating considerable interest in NI among anglers from outside the area.
3
Salmon Populations
3.1
Overall Situation in the North Atlantic
The status of salmon in the north Atlantic is that numbers are very poor and falling. Stocks
generally are at a historic low point, although there are some pockets of salmon which are
escaping the trend e.g. Iceland, Kola (Russia). Fish numbers are in widespread decline and
ever more restrictive regulations are being introduced to preserve what is left of the stock.
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The Skerries and Causeway, Co Antrim, Draft Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 5-4-11
There are a number of reasons for this, associated with habitat loss, and predation e.g. by
seals and cormorants. According to NASCO, recent trends indicate that salmon numbers
will remain very low for the foreseeable future.
This effect has been clearly shown in the marine survival of salmon as recorded at the river
Bush (NASCO/ICES Index River) as shown in Appendix 2. Survival of salmon at sea is now
in the range 4/6 % compared to 30 % previously. We are convinced seals have had some
effect on this. The outcome of this analysis is that in the last decade salmon numbers
generally in the north Atlantic have plummeted and will not recover in the foreseeable future.
3.2
Local Salmon Populations
The fisheries context in which this proposal is made needs to be examined in light of recent
events. Historically, the salmon fishery of the Foyle system has been extremely rich, with the
reported commercial net catch peaking at 150,000 fish in 1964.
This contrasts with the present very poor state of the stock - the UAF is presently estimating
the total run into the entire Foyle/Roe/Faughan systems collectively at around a historic low
point of 25,000/30,000 fish.
Adult returns information is set out in Appendix 3. The figures represent an estimate of total
returns giving a qualitative indication of the overall position before 2000 (some limits on
counter returns in this period), and a quantitative indication after 2000.
There is a risk to salmon numbers, particularly from predation. The protection of the
remainder of the salmon is paramount. It can be seen from the graph in Appendix 3 that
there is a very substantial drop in adult returns of salmon to the Loughs Agency area from
then to the present.
Partial counts only are available in certain years, however even when allowances are made
for this shortfall in information, there remains a clear overall downward trend. Substantial
reductions in exploitation by nets were introduced by the Loughs Agency in 2007; there is no
evidence of benefit in terms of additional salmon entering the rivers as a result.
In 2009 the commercial net catch in the LA area was approximately 1,900 salmon, a historic
low.
The situation in the Bann/ Lough Neagh system, and other coastal rivers in NI, is broadly
the same - the stock is in sharp decline and is in need of protection.
3.3
Discussion
The precipitous decline in the returning adult salmon stock in Northern Ireland is of great
concern. There are three areas of action which can be taken to protect the stock;
.1
.2
.3
Address problems in the marine phase
Reduce exploitation
Address problems in the freshwater phase
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The Skerries and Causeway, Co Antrim, Draft Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 5-4-11
Considerable efforts have been made to reduce the exploitation of the stock: to date the
reductions have not even made up for the continued losses elsewhere in the life-cycle.
Juvenile stocks are generally mixed: diminishing adult runs will struggle to redress that
situation. Therefore there is a clear imperative to ensure that all aspects of the salmon
environment are maintained at optimum beneficial level to nurture juvenile socks, and have
the maximum number of fish spawning.
It is necessary therefore to ensure that maximum effort is made to have all aspects of the
salmon environment in a natural condition, including the control of predation by seals and
cormorants.
4
Priority Species
A review of the UK priority species was undertaken in 2005. This was a thorough and
inclusive process. These proposals were agreed by Governments of all four UK
administrations in August 2007. As a direct follow-on to this UK review, a review of Northern
Ireland Priority Species has recently been completed by the Northern Ireland Species
Delivery Group as part of the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy. The new Northern
Ireland priority species list includes salmon.
5
SAC Proposals
Under the Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy, the new Northern Ireland priority species
list includes salmon but not Grey seals. The salmon is under ever increasing pressure and
we request that salmon are included as a secondary interest feature for this draft SAC in
order to protect their juvenile (smolt), and returning adult, life stages in the marine
environment. These islands are located directly on the most important salmon migration
routes in the north of Ireland; in summer and autumn in periods of low rainfall, it is common
for salmon to spend many weeks at sea waiting for the rivers to come into flood to facilitate
upstream migration.
6
Summary
We request that salmon are included as a secondary interest feature for this draft SAC in
order to protect their juvenile (smolt), and returning adult, life stages in the marine
environment.
Robbie Marshall
Development Officer
Ulster Angling Federation
05/04/2011
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