On this episode of RTE’s Ear to the Ground, Ella McSweeney travels west to Mayo to cover the story of how wild salmon spawning is monitored.
On her travels, Ella chats with Declan Cooke (National Habitat Development Manager), Michael Wilson (Assistant Inspector, Ballina) and Eddie Doherty (Fisheries Officer, Ballina).
Filmed along the River Deel (L. Conn/Moy catchment), Crossmonlina and Carrowgarve, Ella discovers -
• How critical this time of year is for the Atlantic salmon, due to spawning activity
• The work of IFI’s staff, in monitoring spawning activity and counting redds
• Current pressures on salmon, their habitat and water quality (including a piece on the invasive Pacific Pink Salmon species)
• How important it is to prevent disturbance to river habitat and salmon
• Riparian habitat protection and the establishment of aquatic buffer zones
With special thanks to John Coyne, Padraic O’ Malley, Kevin Crowley and Mick Millane for supplying additional footage to RTE.
[This episode of Ear to the Ground was first broadcast on RTE One on Thursday, January 5th 2023. Ear to the Ground is produced by IndiePics for RTÉ]