Explanatory note

Northern Ireland

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These regulations revoke and remake the Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) Regulations 1999. The Regulations—

(a)

provide for the suspension of angling or the use of nets to take salmon or sea trout or the restriction of angling to catch and release in the specified waters in the Foyle Area for the purpose of conservation of Atlantic salmon if the number of migrating salmon counted going upstream in the Rivers Mourne, Faughan, Roe and Finn are below stock level targets or, in the case of the Rivers Mourne and Roe, if the rivers are in flood or, in the case of the River Mourne, in times of drought;

(b)

specify the target numbers for stock levels of migrating salmon in the Rivers Mourne, Faughan, Roe and Finn and water levels for the Rivers Mourne and Roe;

(c)

stipulate the conditions under which netting in the River Foyle, Lough Foyle and seaward of Lough Foyle shall be suspended if the number of migrating salmon counted going upstream in the Rivers Mourne, Faughan, Roe and Finn are below the specified stock level target numbers;

(d)

stipulate the conditions under which angling in the Rivers Faughan, Roe, Finn and Mourne shall be restricted to catch and release if the number of migrating salmon counted going upstream are below the specified stock level target numbers;

(e)

stipulate the conditions under which angling in the Rivers Faughan, Roe, Finn and Mourne shall be restricted to catch and release for the remainder of the angling season if the number of migrating salmon counted going upstream are below the specified stock level target numbers;

(f)

stipulate the conditions under which angling in the Rivers Faughan, Roe and Mourne shall be suspended from 11^th October in any year if the number of migrating salmon counted going upstream are below the specified stock level target;

(g)

stipulate the conditions under which angling and netting in the River Foyle, Lough Foyle and seaward of Lough Foyle and angling in the River Mourne shall be suspended if the River Mourne is in flood or in times of drought;

(h)

stipulate the conditions under which netting and angling in the River Roe shall be suspended if the River Roe is in flood;

(i)

make consequential amendment of certain definitions in the Foyle Area (Control of Drift and Draft Net Fishing) Regulations 2004.