Yes, on the Ship canal web site it specifically says no fishing at all is allowed.
The Quays themselves are an easier option, with very good fish too. I have caught some gorgeously coloured rudd in them, and seen pike, roach,perch, carp, bream and tench in the basins.

I know a few barbel were stocked in the Irwell, much higher up, well above Salford, a few years ago, but the chances of seeking any out on the ship canal itself must be a daunting task. The water also does not look very suitable for them....but as some idiots seem to stock stillwaters with them, who knows whether there might be some. As a barbel, I would be reluctant to voluntarily go any lower down the Irwell than Salford. As I have no recollection of anyone catching stillwater barbel before anglers started to stiock them in such, I will assume that barbel avoid them like the plague in the natural world.

You can fish the ship canal at salford quays and in and around warrington but no where else, have a gander at northern monkeys.

hi lads thanks for info on MSC. and jayzs for pm on the canal. it seems to me that your totally limited on where to fish the canal itself. all the write ups dont tell you where you can fish it.[ which is fair enough not naming pegs ] i followed the map up to the irwell. its on our doorstep yet never fished it?? there are some nice looking stretches on there. but some of the write ups say DONT FISH ALONE. unless your built like a brick sh**house. ha ha billy