In 1975, 1.76 million wild Atlantic salmon returned to Ireland.
In 2022, that number was 171,700. A 90% collapse in one lifetime.
Today I’m breaking down EVERY cause — and naming names.
In this video essay I cover:
→ River pollution and agricultural runoff destroying spawning habitat
→ The salmon farm sea lice controversy that split the Irish government
→ The EU Common Fisheries Policy — how Ireland surrendered its own waters in 1973
→ The drift net ban — was it fair? Did it even work?
→ Poaching — bad, but is it the cause?
→ Seals and cormorants — don’t blame the wildlife
→ Ocean warming, zooplankton collapse & the North Atlantic food chain
→ What Ireland can actually do to save its wild salmon
SOURCES: Inland Fisheries Ireland · EPA Water Quality Report 2019–2024
Missing Salmon Alliance · Salmon Watch Ireland · NASCO · IUCN Red List
IFI 18-year sea lice study · ICES Burrishoole 62-year study
Irish Times · RTÉ · Common Fisheries Policy records
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Credit to : FisherMac