ANGLERS from 28 Donegal clubs this week pledged to boycott rivers to protest against new measures they claim will damage dwindling salmon stocks.

Up to 3,000 anglers will refuse to purchase rod licenses to emphasise their concerns about new legislation which they say is detrimental to salmon stocks.

Noel Carr from Carrick, who is secretary of the Federation of Irish Salmon and Sea Trout Anglers (FISSTA), said while drift netting has been banned, draft net fishermen may have their quotas increased to fish in river estuaries.

"This will undo habitat and conservation work undertaken by angling clubs here.

"Anglers are very angry and the only legal avenue of protest open to them is to stop fishing by refusing to buy rod licences," Mr Carr said.