National Secretary of the Federation Noel Carr told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the rise in fish numbers comes after 30 years of salmon conservation campaigns, including the 2006 driftnet ban.
Mr Carr said the heavy rains of July has created "an angler's dream" as it led to floods into spate rivers and allowed salmon to return in "the numbers we are now seeing". He said a new north Atlantic agreement with fishermen in place since 2018 has allowed salmon to be protected in their feeding grounds so they return back to Irish, American and European rivers in greater numbers.
Mr Carr said that this is working after a 30-year programme and "we are delighted to see results from this". However, he said he was giving a cautious welcome as it comes at a time when fewer anglers are fishing and there appears to be less poaching.