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# North Mayo anglers claim River Moy salmon data is flawed

# Members of Moy Action Group addressed Ballina councillors where they called for the installation of fish counters on the River Moy

Mayo anglers called for installation of fish counters on River Moy

Anton McNulty

18 Feb 2026 8:30 PM

Email: 

[antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie](mailto:antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie)

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Inland Fisheries Ireland have been accused of using flawed data to introduce restrictions on salmon fishing in the River Moy by anglers in north Mayo.

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Members of the Moy Action Group made the claim during a [presentation to members of the Ballina Municipal District](https://www.mayonews.ie/news/ballina/1996757/mayo-anglers-voice-growing-concern-over-salmon-numbers-on-river-moy.html) where they warned that the River Moy faces closure if data taken from angler's log books are relied upon to introduce regulation on salmon fishing.

Martin Parker, a member of Moy Action Group told the councillors that salmon stock data used by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to justify new regulations was taken solely from angler's log books which he said was not accurate.

During the presentation, the anglers claimed there is a healthy fish population in the river and called for an investment in the installation of 'effective and efficient fish counters' on the River Moy. 

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Mr Parker said the anglers were in favour of conservation but their problem lay with the methodology which IFI used and felt that fish counters will be the only accurate way to record the number of salmon in the river.

“If they rely solely on anglers log books again to take into account the new regs \[regulations\] coming down the pipeline, there is going to be less anglers log book returns, less salmon recorded and what does that mean for the Moy. It could mean it is shut and it is a horrifying thought but that is what it could mean,” Mr Parker said.

“The cost of the counters is about €100,000 and if they cannot afford it we will look locally to get the money. We don't want to let them off the hook.

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“We know conservation is needed but for God's sake do it correctly. If they put the counters in and they say in 18 months time that the river has to close we will have no problem with that,” Mr Parker told the meeting.

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**Salmon Capital of Ireland**

The Moy Action Group was set up [last year after the IFI proposed to introduce a brown tag scheme](https://www.mayonews.ie/news/ballina/1962573/ifi-plans-will-wipe-out-salmon-angling-on-the-moy-claims-mayo-councillor.html) of the River Moy in 2026 whereby 1,044 tags would be distributed through a lottery system.

The proposal was met with consternation among anglers, business people and local representatives in Ballina which is regarded as the Salmon Capital of Ireland.

These proposals were amended in recent weeks with the brown tag scrapped but anglers are limited to seven tags between June 1 and August 31 while the rest of the season is restricted to catch and release.

Peter McHugh, Treasurer of Ballina Salmon Anglers told the meeting that the regulations were already having an impact on this season's fishing.

“Normally by the end of February there would be €7,000 to €8,000 revenue taken in \[from permits\] and so far this year we have taken in €700. That is the kind of effect it is having on the town. If the catch and release continues until June 1 we will have no anglers,” he said, adding that the club will not be viable into the future.

“We normally take in €30,000 to €35,000 a year and it takes that much to run a club. If we lose that we lose the club and the salmon capital of Ireland will have no salmon club,” he commented.

Local councillors gave their backing to the angler's campaign and invited them to address the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council.

Fine Gael councillor John O'Hara said that salmon fishing is too important to Ballina and closing the river would be the worst thing to happen.