The Border Midland and Western Regional Assembly has today welcomed the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Project that was presented at a conference in Limerick this week, addressed by Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Fergus O’ Dowd,TD.
The conference which was attended by over 100 delegates from Atlantic Regions of the EU showcased integrated water resource management projects across the Atlantic Area. The event was the culmination of three years of co-operation by international partners in Ireland, the UK, France, Spain and Portugal on the conservation of native fish species.
In Ireland the project made a valuable contribution to the Shannon Salmon Restoration Plan (SSRP ) which looks at redressing the decline in Atlantic salmon populations throughout the Shannon river system. The Irish partners in the project are Inland Fisheries Ireland, University College Cork, ESB Fisheries Conservation and the Marine Institute. Other participant countries in the project addressed issues concerning other fish species including Eel, Sea Trout and Smelt.
This €3.8m project has identified important factors in the conservation of Atlantic salmon in the Shannon and provided useful maps and spatial tools for improved planning and development throughout the Shannon catchment area.
BMW Regional Assembly Director, Gerry Finn said: “As the National Contact Point for the Atlantic Area Programme in Ireland the BMW Regional Assembly is delighted to be associated with this initiative and looks forward to providing continued support to the Irish Partners in the new EU funding period 2014-2020.”
The AARC project is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the EU Atlantic Area Programme 2007-2013. The BMW Regional Assembly is the designated national contact point for the programme in Ireland.
