Icelandic Orri Vigfusson Launches ambitious Irish Salmon Sanctuary Development Plan

On January 1st the Chairman of the Federation of Irish Salmon and Seatrout Anglers (FISSTA who represent 84 Irish clubs and 15,000 anglers nationwide) Noel Carr, received a new year letter from Orri Vigfusson, Chairman, of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund which generated much fruitful debate within FISSTA.

Mr Vigfusson said at that time that he had great hopes that An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern and his Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Frank Fahey will agree that they cannot stand aside, when almost everybody else with an interest in conserving Irish salmon, including the majority of netsmen, supports the NASF campaign to halt the decline in stocks. Netting, is still the greatest killer of salmon and the closure of these nets is the objective of all involved in conservation. But there is a cost to this plan and money alone is not enough. Finding the money to implement the plan will help to ensure the restoration of stocks and enable us all to hand on rivers abundant in salmon to future generations.

His letter asked anglers to play their part to achieve the buyout of nets by not just contributing cash through an increase in license, but also to propose and implement new measures to ensure the netsmen's
conservation gesture will be very worthwhile and successful. FISSTA decided to play a pivotal conservational role and lead by example if netsmen were to be encouraged to show restraint from fishing.

Action speaks louder than words and FISSTA firstly agreed to campaign for:

(i) The Government to embrace the NASF plan
(ii) An immediate ban on the sale of rod caught fish outside the commercial season.
(iii) To plan a new salmon restoration programme

Last month, Mr Vigfusson met FISSTA to discuss some ideas and their pivotal role within Irish angling which resulted in the creation of the Irish Salmon Sanctuary Project.

The concept of this project provides for a systematic and indepth salmon habitat enhancement plan to be implemented on every one of their 84 club fisheries. Work programmes will be drawn up and costed with the help of our renowned scientific Fishery Board experts and a planned programme will then be implemented with the cooperation and help from all the recognised stakeholders on their respective fisheries under coordination of the local club.

On Saturday 31st March the FISSTA Executive Council ratified the concept document and following a very cordial meeting with FISSTA on Sunday 1st April Mr Vigfusson welcomed the "positive news for the salmon" and pledged his full support to ensure the full implementation of this most ambitious development plan.

He further stated that he would now be in a position to encourage more netsmen to cease netting and as a result of this huge expression of commitment by the 84 angling affiliates of FISSTA. While anglers have always been pro active in the habitiat development of the salmon, it is measure of the huge support for conservation that anglers are prepared to commit their spare time over a number of years in a voluntary way to ensure more salmon have a pristine habitat prepared for when they return home to spawn. "It is most encouraging to know that over 15,000 anglers nationwide appreciate our hard work and respond in this most positive way." Said Mr Vigfusson.