International fisheries biologist presents a novel approach to boost wild Atlantic salmon populations in Irish rivers
Wednesday, 18th October 2017: As part of the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) Research Seminar Series, Dr Kyle Young, a Research Associate from the University of Zurich, was recently invited to Ireland to give a presentation on his novel approach to enhance wild Atlantic salmon production in river systems. This concept proposes the translocation of wild fry from abundant to low productivity areas within a catchment.
Natural survival bottlenecks are experienced by Atlantic salmon through each stage of its lifecycle, from egg to fry, fry to parr, parr to smolt and so on. Under natural conditions, the vast majority of wild salmon fry do not survive to become parr. These so called “doomed majorities” can be present in sections of rivers with an initial abundance of emergent salmon fry whose subsequent population size is constrained density dependent mortality and by the carrying capacity of the habitat.
Dr Young proposed that such fry could be translocated from these areas to low or non-productive sections of the same river where suitable habitat is present, in an effort to potentially boost the overall production of native wild salmon populations.
Photo: Dr Kyle Young (centre) visits the National Salmonid Index Catchment Research Station. (L-R): Mr Darren Craig (NSIC, IFI); Dr Paddy Gargan (R&D, IFI); Mr Martin McEnroe (Board Member, IFI); Dr Kyle Young (University of Zurich); Mr Padraic O’Malley (NSIC, IFI); and Ms Laura Walsh (NSIC, IFI)
This approach may minimise the unintended negative consequences of more conventional salmon stocking programmes where wild salmon broodstock are taken from spawning areas and eggs fertilised in the hatchery. Hatchery-origin fish are also typically less well-adapted to thrive than their wild compatriots and the overall fitness of the wild component of a population may be compromised through lower overall survival, interbreeding and competition for resources with stocked fish.
Dr Cathal Gallagher, Head of Research & Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland, said, “We were delighted to welcome Dr Young to our headquarters in Citywest to further explore the potential of this novel proposal to boost wild Atlantic salmon populations. This iconic species is of both major conservation and socio-economic importance to Ireland. Although wild salmon are widely distributed in Irish freshwaters, their long-term sustainability remains under continued threat from a variety of factors. These include habitat degradation, issues related to aquaculture, oceanic and climatic change, pollution, illegal fishing and over-fishing.”
Following the Research Seminar, Dr Young visited the National Salmonid Index Catchment (NSIC) at the River Erriff, the Galway Salmon Fishery and the Cong Hatchery facility to further discuss his theorised approach to salmon stocking with IFI management, field staff and researchers.
Inland Fisheries Ireland are discussing the possibility of undertaking experimental trials with this novel approach to boost juvenile salmon production upstream of their trapping facilities in the Erriff catchment, the National Salmonid Index Catchment.
Pike Research Programme
The 2016 Pike research programme will combine archived IFI data on pike ecology with empirical research on pike feeding and on the feasibility of transferring pike between Irish waters. A cutting-edge mathematical model of pike-trout interactions is to be developed. This model will take account of existing knowledge relating to the focal species, including population dynamics, life-history strategies, feeding ecology, behaviour and physiology. The model will be designed to simulate the populations of pike and trout in a lake specified by available input data and will be validated using available survey-based time series data from Irish lakes.
This research will be supported by additional field work looking at the seasonal variation in the diet of pike. Genetics samples of pike will be taken from all waters where pike are recorded during routine IFI surveys on lakes and rivers (on-going), for future analysis.
ESManage
ESManage is an Environmental Protection Agency funded project which aims to harness the knowledge and tools required to embed the ecosystem services approach into policy and decision-making for sustainable management of water resources, as required by the Water Framework Directive.
http://www.ucd.ie/esmanage/
Irish Specimen Fish Committee
The ISFC's main aim is to verify and publicise the capture of specimen (i.e. trophy) fish caught on rod and line by anglers in Ireland, both in freshwater and at sea. The Committee also ratifies Irish record rod caught fish.
http://irish-trophy-fish.com/
Irish Ramsar Wetlands Committee
The Irish Ramsar Wetlands Committee was set up with financial assistance from the Government and provides a mechanism for spreading the Convention’s approach to wetland and water issues beyond the individuals and branches of government that are officially charged with its implementaion.
http://irishwetlands.ie/
Thick-lipped Mullet
Scientific name: Chelon labrosus (Risso, 1827)
Family: Mugilidae
Order: Mugiliformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Irish name: Lannach Glas
Irish angling record: 4.128kg (1993 Cork Harbour)
Native species: Yes
Hybrids: No
Identifying features
Back broad; head short and broad; small, triangular mouth; dorsal fins small, well separated, the first with four strong spines; tail fin forked; pelvics set some distance behind pectorals; large hard scales; no spines on head or gill-cover; greyish in colour with lengthwise dark streaks; upper lip thick, with papillae; its greatest depth more than half the diameter of the eye; jugular inter-space narrow and parallel when gills closed4.
Environment and Habitat
Marine species which occurs in brackish water from April to October; inhabits sea, estuary or river bottom; feeds in brackish and marine water and breed in the ocean (1; estuarine1; common in Irish coastal waters and estuaries; moves south in the winter and north in the summer around the European coast2;
European distribution
Eastern Atlantic: Scandinavia and Iceland. Mediterranean Sea; southwestern Black Sea 65°N - 12°N, 24°W - 36°E; Common on the Irish coast.
Economic value in Ireland
Some commercial value; important sea-angling species.
Red list status
Least concern
Irish legislation status
Unprotected
EU legislation status
Unprotected
Thin-lipped Mullet
Scientific name: Liza ramada (Risso, 1827)
Family:Mugilidae
Order: Mugiliformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Irish name:Lannach Caol-liopach
Irish angling record: Not recorded
Native species: Non-native
Hybrids: No
Identifying features
Differs from previous species in thinner upper lip (greatest depth less than half diameter of eye) and broader, oval-shaped jugular interspace4.
Environment and Habitat
Shallow sea-water adjoining coasts and open ocean as well as freshwater; live in freshwater and breed in the ocean (catadromous)1; this species inhabits coastal regions and can be found in estuaries and lagoons; it also can enter freshwater rivers; spawns in the sea2;
European distribution
Eastern Atlantic; more commonly found in warmer climates; rare in Irish waters but may be colonizing Irelands east coast (Roche, pers. comm..); range formerly extended to the south coast of Ireland only2;
Economic value in Ireland
None;
Red list status
Least concern
Irish legislation status
Unprotected
EU legislation status
Unprotected
Flounder
Scientific name: Platichthys flesus ((Linnaeus, 1758))
Family: Pleuronecticae
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Irish name: Dúleatha
Irish angling record: 2.227kg (1993, Ballyteigue, Co. Wexford)
Native species: Yes
Hybrids: No
Identifying features
Eyes and colour normally on the right side, but "reversed" examples are commoner amongst flounders than amongst other flat fishes; conspicuous enlarged, rough, hard scales on head ridge, anterior part of lateral line and along bases of dorsal and anal fins on the eyed side; dark brown to greenish-grey, sometimes with vague orange spots, blind side uniform opaque white4.
Environment and Habitat
Adults are typically recorded in marine environment; will inhabit sea or lake bottom; live in freshwater and breed in the ocean (catadromous)1; often found in parts of rivers and lakes linked to the sea, habitat extends into freshwater conditions; inhabits sandy, muddy bottoms2;
European distribution
From Western Europe to the Black Sea; 72°N - 30°N, 32°W - 45°E; Widespread around Irish coast, particularly estuaries.
Economic value in Ireland
Commercial value; one of the most important species for the shore angler in Ireland. Can be found in most Irish coastal and transitional waters.
Red list status
Least concern.
Irish legislation status
Unprotected.
EU legislation status
Unprotected.
