The Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Timmy Dooley, has signed the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations, setting out the rivers on which salmon and sea trout angling may take place for the 2026 season. This legislation came into effect on Friday, 3 April 2026.
Announcing the Regulations, Minister Dooley said:
“In line with the scientific advice, 72 rivers will be available for salmon and sea trout fishing in 2026 – 32 of these rivers will be open, with a further 40 open to ‘catch and release’ angling. The Regulations have also been informed by two public consultations, ensuring that stakeholder views were carefully considered alongside the scientific advice.”
A total of 72 rivers will be open for salmon angling in 2026, in line with scientific advice provided by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS), on the status of individual stocks. The TEGOS Report for 2026 shows that wild Atlantic salmon stocks continue to experience a significant and sustained decline, with many rivers below their conservation limits. The development of the regulations was also informed by two public consultations.
For more information, see the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment website.
