A salmon, trout and eel research station, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Tweet

The Marine Institute Newport Research facility, located in Co. Mayo, Ireland, was first established in 1955 and has developed into a major research centre studying local salmon, wild trout, and eels. The river at the facility has been fitted with a weir and traps which allow scientists to monitor the fish in various ways. Among other things, they might be weighed and counted, and the ratio of males to females might be recorded before the fish are released to move on up or down the river. At the side of the weir is a series of ‘steps’ called a ‘fish ladder’ which allows the salmon to go back upstream during the breeding season. The research station is also home to several hatchery units and pond-rearing facilities. At least the salmon in Ireland don’t have grizzly bears to contend with – just fish ladders. The photo doesn’t show much but the weir is on the right and the fish ladder on the left.