Response ID ANON-RNF7-AMEJ-T Submitted to Nature Recovery Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2032: A Proposed Strategy for Halting and Reversing the Loss of Biodiversity Submitted on 2026-03-25However these goals could end up being aspirational goals that facilitate silo thinking to the detriment of achieving improved nature. There needs to be a process for carefully balancing the needs of economic development pressures with those of enhancing nature value….and implementing policies to achieve these.

Education and consultation with informed economic and socio economic benefits are required.

For example, many rivers through out NI historically had excellent populations of trout and salmon, many still have remnant populations. Resilient habitats and good water quality are necessary to support natural stocks of wild natural Atlantic salmon and sea trout. The role of angling clubs providing access to local rivers needs and community lead conservation groups need to be supported in the drive to improve the nature experience.

The Glens of Antrim rivers Ballycastle, Carey , Glenshesk, Dun, Dall, etc and those in Co Down have witnessed almost complete collapses of Atlantic salmon and sea trout stocks. Whilst it is widely reported that issues with sea survival of juveniles had a major impact upon the return of adults from the ocean, river habitat needs to be managed appropriately to secure nature and natural populations. It is also clear that attempts were made to restore the populations of Atlantic salmon in these rivers by hatchery since 1990s. There is now scientific consensus that river habitat mismanagement has reduced the capacity of Atlantic salmon and sea trout to recover to previous natural abundances. Environmental Impacts of Dredging need to balanced against economic benefits. This could be achieved in catchments with fewer development pressures from urban infra structure and agriculture. It is essential that this vital and valuable component of nature is enabled to recover and is protected.

There have been recent examples of dredging operations reported via NIEA in these rivers where long lengths of the riverbed were dredged and it is difficult to ascertain the purpose and what was achieved by the dredging schemes in these rivers. It is clear that such operations impact the Hydro -Geomorphological profile of these small spate rivers to such an extent that much gravel is moved downstream, spates are much more aggressive leading the further gravel wash out and wash out of salmon spawning gravels.

Atlantic salmon and seatrout require stable gravel locations in rivers in which to deposit their ova. Diminishing salmon habitat needs to be protected and accounted for in decisions to dredge rivers if nature is to be restored. Other species such as lamprey’s and invertebrates are also impacted with knock on consequences for fly life, birds and mammals such as mayflies dippers and otters. Therefore, the objectives and outcomes of any dredging operations need to be defined and balanced against the needs of nature restoration. The results need to be well communicated to stakeholders to facilitate buy in and agreement to deliver plans.

It will be essential to balance nature protections against developments. In areas such as the Glens of Antrim rivers where urban development pressure may be less severe any dredging and River Basin Planning Initiatives need to fully consider the biodiversity impacts on the ecological status of salmon and sea trout stocks. The heritage and future value to society of maintaining a healthy productive clean river would add vital weight to the balance point of nature vs economic development. The strategic directives do provide essential over-arching guidance for nature. However specific local environments and individual river hydro geomorphology also need to be considered in decision making. in addition to the standard pollution indicators for water quality. Efficiency gains in agricultural practice could be utilised to offset and drainage and flood plain accommodation of spate water to enhance salmonid habitat. The heritage and future value to society of maintaining a healthy productive clean river would add vital weight to the balance point.