Blackwater fishers share their story
Woodcock Smokery founder Sally Barnes is featured in a recent Irish Farmers Journal article by Janine Kennedy examining the impact of recent changes to the Blackwater salmon fishery and the communities connected to it.
For the piece, Janine travelled to Villierstown, Co. Waterford, to meet the fishers whose families have fished the Blackwater for generations. The article explores the concerns of traditional snap-net fishers following the decision to designate the river as catch-and-release only, ending commercial wild salmon and sea trout fishing on the Blackwater for the foreseeable future.
Sally, who has worked with the same Blackwater fishers for many years, spoke about the broader impact of these changes on traditional food producers and rural coastal economies.
"As a buyer, it takes a long time to build relationships," Sally told the Irish Farmers Journal. "I work with the same fishermen because I know they are working sustainably and keeping all of their records."
The article highlights not only the challenges facing Ireland's remaining wild salmon fishers but also the broader loss of knowledge, heritage, and food traditions associated with rivers like the River Blackwater.
Thank you to Janine Kennedy for taking the time to meet the fishers, hear their stories firsthand, and explore the wider implications for those whose lives and livelihoods remain closely connected to wild salmon.