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AARC

Tagginag a salmon

Atlantic Aquatic Resource Conservation

ARC logoThe AARC project in Ireland will help increase our understanding of some of the factors causing salmon population declines in the River Shannon and how they might be addressed by using new developments from the study of restoration ecology. In the context of the Shannon Salmon Restoration Project objectives, published by the former Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, AARC will provide an important impetus by identifying the current status of salmon production in the Shannon, coordinating the activities of national authorities and scientific institutions and by applying genetic knowledge to provide a basis for the rehabilitation of salmon in the upper Shannon.

Objectives of the project:

  • Identify and protect residual wild and feral salmon populations
  • Identify and relieve access issues
  • A tributary specific moratorium on stocking to facilitate genetic assessment
  • Select candidate genetic material for restoration populations
  • Operate hatchery programme for gene banking and brood-stock  management
  • Assess locations for re-establishment of populations
  • Release strategy complimentary to natural re-colonisation processes
  • Releases to be restricted to the establishment of 2 or 3 cohorts
  • Monitor fitness of satellite populations

Progress

project works

Progress to date

  • Electro-fishing surveys were carried out on Lough Derg sub-catchment during summer 2010 to identify areas with residual salmon populations.
  • Walk over surveys were undertaken in Derg, Suck, Boyle and Allen sub-catchments to identify suitable rivers in which to conduct stocking experiments wherein the relative survival of the progeny of fish from the Rivers Feale, Mulkear and main Shannon could be compared with the Parteen hatchery strain.
  • Broodstock salmon were obtained from these candidate populations, held in Parteen  and eggs stripped in experimental facilities at the Parteen Hatchery. Eggs were incubated and mortality rates assessed by ESB and UCC staff. Appropriate health checks and bio-security protocols were carried out by all project staff.
  • Experimental sites for the common garden experiment were assessed and prepared for the introduction of eyed ova.
  • Relevant fisheries datasets were collated and a project specific GIS will be constructed with information on habitat types, production areas, barriers to migration, water quality, drainage works and other relevant datasets.
  • International discussion groups with AARC partners were attended and project updates disseminated.  Financial and activity reporting was carried out quarterly.
  • An information newsletter was compiled and distributed to local stakeholder groups

More information

A typical river site

Project Budget

Funding for AARC comes under the EU 2007-2013 Atlantic Area Programme.  The project is 65% EU funded with contributions from IFI, UCC, ESB and MI.

Total project budget is €3.87m. Total Irish budget is €754,242 over 3 years.

Planned completion date

The project is due to be completed in the last quarter of 2012.

The final project report is due in the last quarter of 2012.  Field experimentation will be completed by summer 2012. Lab DNA analysis will be completed by last quarter 2012.

Project partners

Project partners represent experts with extensive knowledge in fisheries management from educational institutions, research agencies and regulatory authorities throughout the UK, Ireland, Spain, France and Portugal.  The Irish partners are: IFI, UCC, ESB and the Marine Institute.

Newsletter

AARC newsletter

River Shannon AARC Newsletter

 

Contact details

Survey team

Project Team

Dr Philip McGinnity, Dr Jamie Coughlan, Brian Clarke & Professor Tom Cross (UCC); Oisin Naughton and Dr Paddy Gargan (IFI); Dr Denis Doherty (ESB); Dr Niall O’Maoileidigh (Marine Institute).

Contact Details

  • Dr Paddy Gargan & Oisin Naughton,
    Inland Fisheries Ireland (SRBD),
    Ashbourne Business Park,
    Dock Road,
    Limerick City.
    Email:     This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
    Tel:     +353 (0)61 300238
  • Dr Philip McGinnity & Dr Jamie Coughlan,
    Beaufort Marine Research Award,
    University College Cork,
    Distillery Fields, Cork.
    Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
    Tel: +353 (0) 98 42300
  • Dr Denis Doherty,
    Fisheries conservation,
    ESB EI,
    Ardnacrusha, County Clare.
    Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: +353 (0) 86 8970901
  • Dr Niall O’Maoileidigh,
    Marine Institute,
    Burrishoole,
    Newport, County Mayo.
    Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
    Tel: +353 (0) 98 42300

Further Information

Project website: www.aarcproject.org
 

AARC Project News