While much information on the size of salmon stocks at a district or regional level is obtained from analysis of the national catch and the coded wire tagging information, the fish counter programme was established to provide more direct estimates of stock size in individual rivers. This information in turn is used in the development of population models to estimate stock specific “Conservation Limits” and to subsequently assess whether these conservation limits are being met in these index rivers and therefore in other rivers without automatic counters.
Great progress was made in 2006 when staff of the Regional Fisheries Boards were provided specific training in the operation, downloading and maintenance of two specific counter types i.e. the resistivity counter and the infra red counter. 12 counters are due to be transferred to the Regional Boards by the end of 2006. Full counts for 2005 are provided on the fishcounter website hosted by River Monitoring Technologies and 2006 counts will appear shortly. The Marine Institute will continue to investigate, test and develop fish counting technologies on experimental rivers sites around the country including the Boyne, Liffey, Moy, Corrib, Suir and Cork Blackwater.