A dead salmon lies at the bottom of the rocks, unable to go further upstream
ANGLERS FUME: ‘WE’RE CHARGED €30 A DAY TO FISH IN A RIVER WITH NO FISH’
ANGLERS on one of County Donegal’s top salmon rivers are furious, saying fish are being prevented from returning to their spawning grounds – because a huge boulder is blocking their way.
They say that during floods in January, a concrete slab fell into the Clady river blocking the fish from getting up the river.
And they are worried about conservation of salmon on the river in Gaoth Dobhair and the future of stocks because of the blocked river.
Anglers claim Inland Fisheries Ireland has known about the blockage since January and nothing has been done.
“There are dead fish lying at the bottom of the river where the wall has fallen in,” said one angler last night.
“There are scales on the rocks, evidence that no fish can go any further. There is a big boulder blocking the shoot the fish use to come up the river.
“Inland Fisheries are still charging fishermen €30 a day to fish the river knowing that there is no fish further up stream.”
Another angler on the river said: “Something has to be done and something needs to be done urgently. This is not just about anglers being unable to catch fish – it’s about the future of the river.”
No-one from Inland Fisheries Ireland was available for comment last night.
However our pictures show the blocked river.