The Kerry Salmon Millionaires!

 Is it far fetched to call the people involved in the commercial salmon trade in Kerry, Millionaires? I don't think it is. The reason people fish for Salmon with nets is money! The reason the majority of people fish for Salmon with rod and line is purely for the love of it. Now, I will say this, there is a certain minority of anglers who fish to sell their catch. Unfortunately the greed gets a hold of some of us! But who am I to judge. So let's check out the calculations! If you look at the image below you will see that salmon is valued after being smoked at roughly 120 per kilogram! 

KRD Wild Smoked Salmon, 120 per Kilogram

So if you assume the river Laune nets 3000 wild Salmon per year with an average size of 4 kilo then the calculations would go like this. Each Salmon would be worth 480 euro. That is 120 euro per kilo, with the average Salmon worth 480 euro after being smoked. 3000 salmon with an average retail value at 480 euro would make the Laune with a commercial catch of 3000 salmon worth 1.4 million. Now these are very rough calculations, it could be more, or it could be less but don't get it confused with sustainable fishing! It's not, it's purely financial. That is only the river Laune, we have commercial fisheries in other rivers in Kerry. Salmon is big business. People have made millions from Salmon and they still are making lots of money from this critically endangered species! 

Quinlans Wild Smoked Salmon