Inland Fisheries Ireland is in the process of closing the Irish state owned Cong Salmon Hatchery in Cong county Galway. Given that the present state of Irish Atlantic Salmon stocks are at an historic and catastrophic all time low, this would be a possible FINAL nail in the coffin of the Corrib system Atlantic Salmon stocks. On a personal and human level, many local people will lose employment as a result of this closure.  

Given that the Cong Salmon hatchery is the principle incubation place of a great many of the salmon that run the Galway weir Fishery, one of our national treasures, to close the hatchery would almost certainly destroy The Galway Weir as a Fishery and as a viable angling concern. As it stands the Galway Weir fishery is not only a valuable link in the chain of management, monitoring and preservation of salmon stocks , it is also directly generates very substantial revenue annually in angling fees to Inland Fisheries Ireland and it too provides a great deal of local employment.

Salmon Anglers from all over Ireland, Europe and many parts of the world travel annually to Fish at this world renowned national Irish treasure and there is possibly no place like it in any city in the world. So it would be safe to say that by closing the hatchery in Cong, the Galway Weir fishery is in double jeopardy in that it’s FUTURE is dependant upon the ongoing successful and continued operation of the  Cong Salmon Hatchery.

Recently in the provincial Irish media articles have been appearing speculating that the state is considering LEASING the Galway Weir Fishery to UK based concerns. Based on this it would be reasonable to assume the powers that be are testing the waters of public opinion on this issue, and that it is possible that this decision has already been made to SELL OFF both of these State owned institutions to private FOREIGN interests. Ironically the Irish state has never had such a surplus of wealth as it does right now in 2025 to easily afford the relatively small operational costs necessary to guarantee the future of both the Hatchery in Cong and the Galway Weir Fishery.

Both The Cong Salmon Hatchery and the Galway weir Fishery are the property of the Irish state and it’s citizens and thus we have a legitimate right to contribute to, and be consulted in, determining whether they remain in state ownership and stewardship, or are cynically sold off to the lowest foreign bidder.   

If the present government is TRULY as it says committed to the conservation of our natural resources and salmon stocks, then it’s actions in closing the Cong Salmon Hatchery is somewhat contradictory !   

By signing this petition we hereby serve notice, for all of the above reasons, to the Minister with responsibility for the department of Inland Fisheries that we are vehemently opposed to the Closure of the Cong Salmon Hatchery and the Sale / lease of the Galway Weir Fishery to private foreign interests, and we demand and require that they both remain firmly in the ownership of the Irish people and continue to be operated as such on our behalf by the Irish state.