IFA Countryside

Plan covers Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Carra, Lough Conn, Lough Cullin, Lough Arrow, and Lough Sheelin

Inland Fisheries Ireland has confirmed that a public consultation on the long-term management of the Great Western Lakes gets underway from today (August 9^th) and is urging the public, especially the angling community and anyone who uses the lakes, or lives near them, to make a submission.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is the state agency responsible for the protection, conservation and management of the inland fisheries resource and it has developed a draft plan for the long-term management of seven lakes.

Covering Lough Corrib, Lough Mask and Lough Carra (in Galway), Lough Conn and Lough Cullin (in Mayo), Lough Arrow (in Sligo and Roscommon) and Lough Sheelin (in Cavan, Meath and Westmeath), the draft plan aims to address some of the many factors that impact on the ecological wellbeing and status of native fish stocks.

The lakes have long-been designated, as a matter of policy, to be managed primarily as wild brown trout waters. Therefore, the proposed management programmes for these lakes, as set out in the draft plan, will protect, conserve and, where possible, enhance the lakes’ natural attributes and native biodiversity. In turn, this would optimise the lakes’ potential as sustainable wild brown trout fisheries and, in some cases, Atlantic salmon fisheries. Other species such as eels, Artic char and Ferox trout are also reflected in the draft plan.

Launching the six-week public consultation process, Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development with Inland Fisheries Ireland urged the public to participate by reading the draft plan and making a submission. She said: “It’s clear to see that all seven lakes share a series of pressures which are impacting on their ecosystem stability and native fish stocks. These include declining water quality, fisheries habitat loss, invasive species and the detrimental effects of climate change. These issues will be tackled through the various measures proposed in this draft plan. That is why the public consultation process is such an incredibly important step, as it gives the public the perfect opportunity to have their say.”

The draft plan is available from the Inland Fisheries Ireland website at www.fisheriesireland.ie/westernlakesplan or by visiting Inland Fisheries Ireland’s offices in Galway, Ballina or Limerick. The deadline for making a submission is 5pm on Tuesday, September 20th and those wishing to make a submission are being encouraged to use the online questionnaire which will guide them through the headings of the plan. Unfortunately, any submissions received after the deadline has passed cannot be considered.

During the consultation period, a series of open evenings will take place where members of the public can discuss, seek clarification and ask questions on the draft plan with Inland Fisheries Ireland representatives.

Campion added: “We are urging anyone with an interest in the Great Western Lakes, especially anglers, other users of the lakes or those that live nearby, to read the draft plan and have their say by making a written submission online before the September 20^th deadline.”

ENDS

To boost conservation efforts, anglers who wish to catch and keep wild salmon from the Lower River Lee this year are being reminded by Inland Fisheries Ireland that ‘brown tag’ regulations are still in force until the season closes on 30th September 2022.

Details for the final online draw in 2022 for ‘brown tags’ have just been announced by Inland Fisheries Ireland. This draw is scheduled to place on Monday, August 8th and the deadline for entering is 5pm on Thursday, August 4th.

The measures are included in the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme (Amendment) Regulations, signed into law by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, T.D.

Under brown tag regulations, an angler who wishes to ‘harvest’ a wild salmon, i.e. to take or keep it, must attach a brown tag as well as a standard blue tag to the fish. To help conserve stocks of wild salmon within the Lower River Lee, No. 5 or Cork District, 152 brown tags are available for the season and are being distributed to anglers with a valid 2022 rod licence through a series of four online draws.

Up to a quarter of the available number of brown tags can be issued at any one time, under the Wild Salmon and Seatrout Tagging Scheme Regulations. As a result, a batch of 38 tags was issued to anglers in January, another batch was issued in April and a third batch in June. For the fourth and final draw taking place on Monday 8th August, the final batch of 38 tags for the 2022 Angling Season will be issued.

How to apply

Any anglers that are interested in entering the draw are being asked to fill out the form online through the following link: https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/final-2022-online-draw-for-brown-tags-on-lower-river-lee-in-cork, which closes at 5pm on Thursday, 4th August 2022.

Anglers with a 2022 rod licence who are not allocated a brown tag are only permitted to fish for salmon on a ‘catch and release’ basis on the Lower River Lee.

Further details are available from the Inland Fisheries Ireland’s website at www.fisheriesireland.ie, by telephoning the Macroom office on (026) 41221or by emailing [email protected].

ENDS 

For media information:

Sarah Bohan

Communications at Inland Fisheries Ireland

E : [email protected]

T : 087 65 39936

July and August are typically the busiest months of the year for angling, so Inland Fisheries Ireland is issuing a timely reminder about the national regulations that are in place to protect pike and coarse fish.

Angling is a hugely popular leisure activity and sport in Ireland, with over 325,000 adults* enjoying it. According to an Amárach Research omnibus survey in 2021**, 18% of adults who have not tried angling before are “likely” to try it in the future. 

Inland Fisheries Ireland is the state agency with responsibility for the promotion of angling, as well as the protection, conservation and management of inland fisheries and sea angling resources.

“Historically, Ireland has been known for its salmon and trout fishing, but the country is also being hailed internationally for its pike and coarse fishing. However, the national regulations around pike and coarse fishing might not be as well known,” according to Suzanne Campion, Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Head of Business Development. 

She said: “There are conservation measures in place to protect pike and coarse fish under national byelaws.  It is very important that every angler, including first-time anglers and experienced anglers, becomes familiar with these pieces of legislation to avoid any potential fines or prosecutions.”

Pike are one of largest freshwater fish species in Ireland and can reach over 15 kilograms (33lbs) in weight, while coarse fish include species such as roach, bream, rudd, tench and perch.

Important Bye Laws

Under the national Pike Bye Law (no. 809/2006), there’s a ‘bag limit’ of one pike in any one day. This means that an angler can only keep and take away one pike and must carefully return any other pike caught to the same waterbody, safely. The same bye law also prohibits the killing of any pike that measure longer than 50 centimetres. In these cases, the pike must be returned, safely, to the same waterbody. 

Under the Coarse Fish Bye Law (no. 806/2006), there’s a bag limit of four coarse fish in any one day, meaning that if an angler catches more than four course fish, those must be returned, safely, to the same waterbody. In addition, any coarse fish that measure longer than 25 centimetres cannot be killed.

Meanwhile, there are other regulations that apply to all anglers, regardless of what type of species they are fishing for. For example: it is illegal to fish in Ireland with more than two rods; it is illegal to transfer live roach from one waterbody to another and finally, the use of live bait when angling is prohibited.  Breaches of fisheries legislation could result in fixed penalty fines, seizure of fishing equipment or criminal prosecutions.

Catch and Release

‘Catch and release’ is a conservation practice that is supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland, whereby a fish is handled responsibly and put back into the same waterbody, safely. When fishing for coarse fish, the use of large keepnets is encouraged; it is also recommended that pike and carp sacks are used to weigh the fish, before returning them safely to the same waterbody.

Campion added: “For anyone interested in angling or trying it out, there is an extensive network of very active clubs, associations and federations all over the country that organise coaching, events and competitions. There’s also a dedicated website for angling in Ireland at www.fishinginireland.info with very helpful information about regulations and bye laws, directories and resources.”

ENDS

NOTES 

Sources of facts quoted:

* Ipsos MRBI, commissioned by Inland Fisheries Ireland

**Amárach Research: online omnibus survey carried out in July 2021, with questions supplied by Inland Fisheries Ireland using a sample size of 1,000 adults in Ireland. 

Full wording of Bye Laws

Pike 

The Pike Bye Law No. 809 (2006) provides for the following conservation measures: 

· a bag limit of 1 pike in any one day

· prohibits the killing of any pike greater than 50 cm in length

· prohibits the possession by any person of more than 1 whole pike less than 50 cm or more than 0.75 kg of pike flesh, this provision does not apply to a person storing pike or pike parts subject to conditions

· prohibits the possession by any person of more than 12 coarse fish for use as bait subject to conditions. 

There is no prohibition on the number of frozen sea baits a pike angler can have for the day’s sport. 

Coarse Fish 

The Coarse Fish Bye Law No. 806 of the year 2006 provides for the following conservation measures · a bag limit of 4 coarse fish in any one day

· prohibits the killing of any coarse fish greater than 25 cm in length

In addition, these other regulations are in place: 

1. It is illegal to fish with more than two rods 

2. It is illegal to transfer live Roach from one water to another 

3. The use of live bait is prohibited

For media information:

Sarah Bohan & Sadhbh O’Neill

Communications Team at Inland Fisheries Ireland

E : [email protected] & [email protected]   

T : 087 65 39936 & 087 1019998

About Inland Fisheries Ireland (www.fisheriesireland.ie) 

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC) and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Inland Fisheries Ireland promotes supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland also develops policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling and advises the Minister on same (fisheriesireland.ie).

 Angling in Ireland

Inland Fisheries Ireland runs the fishinginireland.info website, a comprehensive angling information resource which includes details of 1000s of angling venues all around Ireland. Visitors to the site can search for guides, ghillies, instructors, charter fishing boats, tackle shops and small boat hire on a county-by-county basis or by using interactive maps. Angling reports are posted daily and anglers can sign up for a free weekly ezine, called the Irish Angling Update.

• NASCO has raised concerns about the potential for spread and establishment of Pacific pink salmon in rivers throughout the North Atlantic region
• Inland Fisheries Ireland issues an urgent appeal for anglers to remove and report any catches

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state agency responsible for the conservation and protection of freshwater fish and habitats, is issuing an alert for reports of any sightings of Pacific pink salmon.

At the recently held North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) meeting, serious concerns were raised that pink salmon may spread to and establish in rivers throughout the wider Atlantic region. These concerns are raised after an explosive growth in their stocks was observed in northernmost Norwegian rivers in 2021.

In some rivers there, pink salmon now appear to outnumber co-existing native Atlantic salmon stocks despite having persisted at relatively low levels for many decades prior to this.  Stocking programmes undertaken in rivers in the adjacent far northwest of Russia since the 1950s until 2001 are believed to be responsible for the initial spread of pink salmon to the region.  Since 2017, the fish has been increasingly detected in unprecedented numbers in river systems and coastal areas of the North Atlantic, including Ireland, albeit at relatively low levels here to date.

Also known as humpback salmon, pink salmon are a migratory species of salmon, native to river systems in the northern Pacific Ocean and nearby regions of the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean. Although a single specimen was first recorded in Ireland in 1973, until 2017 individuals have been rarely encountered here. As pink salmon predominantly have a two-year lifecycle, there is potential for the species to reappear in Irish rivers again in 2023 and every second so called ‘odd’ year thereafter.  However, they can also turn up in ‘even’ years and a single specimen was reported in the River Suir in 2018.

Members of NASCO, of which Ireland is an active participant under the auspices of the European Union, have now agreed to cooperate to better understand the threats posed to native Atlantic salmon stocks and consider appropriate mitigation measures to address this increasingly concerning issue.

Francis O’Donnell CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “We are appealing to anglers and the general public to remain vigilant and report the presence of any Pacific pink salmon encountered in Irish river systems. The threat of pink salmon means that our already critically endangered Atlantic salmon are on the verge of a very serious ecological crisis. The species is already under threat from declining water quality, loss of habitat, and the impacts of sea lice and salmon farm escapes on native stocks. We will have to consider robust mitigation measures that may prove costly and labour intensive.”

Dr Cathal Gallagher, Head of Research and Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “The sudden increase in pink salmon stocks in northern Norway seen in 2021 and increased reporting of this non-native species in Irish rivers in recent years is of particular concern to IFI.  The presence of large numbers of pink salmon in Irish rivers could negatively impact some of our native species such as Atlantic salmon and sea trout as well as estuarine and coastal marine fish species and their associated ecosystems.  Despite only very limited information being currently available to comprehensively assess such threats, climatic and environmental conditions in Ireland are considered amenable to facilitate the potential establishment of Pacific pink salmon populations in our river systems.”

Inland Fisheries Ireland is appealing to anglers to report catches of pink salmon to Inland Fisheries Ireland’s 24-hour confidential hotline number – 0818 34 74 24 or 0818 FISH 24. As these fish die after spawning, some dead specimens could also be encountered along Irish rivers.  Anyone who catches a pink salmon is asked to:

• Keep the fish and do not release it back into the water (even in rivers only open for catch and release angling)
• Record the date & location of capture, and the length and weight of the fish
• Report it to any IFI office or via the 24-hour confidential hotline number – 0818 34 74 24 or 0818 FISH 24
• Tag the fish and present it to Inland Fisheries Ireland and a new tag will be issued to replace the tag used
• Take a photograph of the fish.

Inland Fisheries Ireland will then arrange collection of the fish for further examination. This will help establish the abundance and extent of distribution of the species in Irish waters.

ENDS

For media information:

Sadhbh O’Neill

Communications

Inland Fisheries Ireland

E: [email protected]

T: 087 1019998

Photo Captions

Photo one: Pacific Pink Salmon 1- Mature male pink salmon with characteristic humpback and spotted tail (photo credit: Eva Thorstad, NINA).

Photo two: Pacific Pink Salmon 2- A Pacific pink salmon (photo credit:  Ola Ugeda).

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state agency responsible for the conservation and protection of freshwater fish, habitats and sea angling resources is asking anglers who have fished the Currane catchment in Co. Kerry for their views. A new online survey has been developed to gather anglers’ knowledge – the survey method called FLEKSI was developed by IFI to help give an insight into the status of the fishery.

Over recent decades populations of sea trout and salmon throughout Ireland are facing serious challenges from various ecological changes. IFI’s Currane STAMP programme is already assessing fish populations within their freshwater and marine phases to report current status and provide scientific advice to support the development of appropriate conservation management measures. 

The data gathered in the FLEKSI survey has the potential for citizens to get involved and provide important insights to guide fisheries management in the future. This survey is for all anglers who fish in the Currane catchment for various species. all responses will help us to build an understanding of the history and ecological status of your fishery.

FLEKSI, which stands for Fisher’s Local Ecological Knowledge Surveillance Indicators aims to capture anglers’ knowledge and hands-on experience to help track changes in fish stocks and ecosystems.

Dr William Roche, a Senior Research Officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland and manager of the STAMP project said: ‘Anglers are keen observers of nature and are aware of changes within their fisheries. We are looking for anglers to share their knowledge and contribute to the conservation and management of this important sea‑trout and salmon fishery. The Currane fishery is particularly highly regarded by anglers, but there is grave concern about the health of its fish stocks in recent years. By capturing these observations, which inevitably span an individual angler’s entire angling career, we believe their unique insight into the fisheries environment will help us to track and understand changes in Currane’s sea trout stocks and the ecosystem as a whole.’ 

The Currane catchment in Co. Kerry is Ireland’s most important sea trout fishery, with a long history of high-quality fishing, particularly for larger sea trout. The fishery is renowned internationally and has been the cornerstone of sea trout and salmon fishing in the southwest of the country since the 1900s.  The FLEKSI survey will give anglers on the Currane catchment an exciting opportunity to share their knowledge as citizen scientists and to make a valuable contribution towards fisheries management on the fishery.

If you fish the Currane system, please fill out the following survey here: https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/currane-anglers-survey-2022.

Each participant also can opt to enter into a prize draw for angling tackle, with one €200 voucher and one €100 voucher to be won.

ENDS

For media information:

Sadhbh O’Neill

Communications

Inland Fisheries Ireland

E : [email protected]   

T : 087 1019998

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state agency responsible for the conservation and protection of freshwater fish, habitats and sea angling resources, is launching a new survey that will tap into the knowledge of trout anglers in Lough Sheelin. The survey will use a method developed by IFI called FLEKSI, which will help to track ecological changes through local knowledge.

The new survey method named FLEKSI, which stands for Fisher’s Local Ecological Knowledge Surveillance Indicators, will feature questions for anglers about their trout catch and about different aspects of the fishery now compared with when they started fishing on the lake. Anglers spend many hours outside observing nature and the fish they catch. IFI recognizes that this accumulated local ecological knowledge is valuable and has potential for citizen science that can provide important insights for fisheries management into the future.

Wild brown trout are well-known to feed opportunistically on seasonal gluts of prey, especially swarms of insects, such as mayflies, midges, sedge-flies, etc. To select artificial flies and lures that “match the hatch”—mimicking prey that trout are feeding on—trout anglers closely observe the lake environment and its wildlife throughout the angling season.

Dr Samuel Shephard, a Senior Research Officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland and one of the developers of the FLEKSI method said: ‘We know how important anglers are as stewards of our fisheries resource and how attuned they are to changes in the lake environment from year to year. Anglers develop in-depth knowledge about their local lake fisheries over their angling career which can provide an important resource for fisheries science. With this new survey we want to use this unique insight to help track changes in Lough Sheelin’s trout stocks and ecosystems.’

Lough Sheelin located in Co. Cavan is one of Ireland’s most important wild brown trout fisheries, with a history of dramatic environmental changes over the last 40 years. The FLEKSI survey will give trout anglers on Lough Sheelin an exciting opportunity to share their knowledge as citizen scientists and to make a valuable contribution towards fisheries management on the lake.

If you fish for trout on Lough Sheelin, please take the opportunity to share your knowledge by following the link here: https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/fleksi-survey-sheelin-anglers-2022

Each participant also has the opportunity to enter into a prize draw for angling tackle, with one €200 voucher and two €100 vouchers to be won.

About Inland Fisheries Ireland (www.fisheriesireland.ie)

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication (DECC) and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Inland Fisheries Ireland promotes supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland also develops policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling and advises the Minister on same (fisheriesireland.ie).

Protection and Development posts opening up in Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and Wexford

Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency responsible for the protection, conservation, development and promotion of freshwater fish, habitats and sea angling, is launching its recruitment drive today to hire forty-nine Seasonal Fisheries Officers.

The six-month posts are divided across seven River Basin Districts, covering sixteen counties with recruitment getting underway immediately.

Seasonal Fisheries Officers will join teams over the summer months to help protect, conserve and develop fisheries resources working in and around Ireland’s lakes, rivers and coastlines.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is looking for candidates for both ‘protection’ and ‘development’ roles and they will play a crucial part in the agency’s plans for 2022, according to its Chief Executive Officer, Francis O’ Donnell. Launching the recruitment drive today, O’ Donnell said: “Our new Seasonal Fisheries Officers will be joining us on the frontlines, helping to protect, maintain and conserve this country’s natural resources. As an environmental agency, enforcement, protection and development are a big focus for us. For example, our teams undertake over 30,000 patrols around the clock every year, including patrols by foot, e-bike, vehicle and boat. At the same time, our development teams ensure the sustainability of fisheries habitat, enabling access for this generation and for future generations.” 

Inland Fisheries Ireland’s HR Director, Róisín Bradley, says the roles would particularly appeal to those who enjoy working outdoors, adding: “Our Officers working in protection will spend a lot of their time patrolling lakes, rivers and coastlines. While Officers working in development will also spend a lot of their time around lakes and rivers, as they build, repair and maintain structures. Those that enjoy being close to nature and working outdoors, in all types of weather, are likely to find these roles very appealing and rewarding.”

Meanwhile, Inland Fisheries Ireland staff from five districts are lending their support to the recruitment drive and appearing in promotional videos to raise awareness about the new posts on offer. They are Maureen Byrne (Drogheda District), Andrew Crosbie (Cavan District), José Peréz (Kerry District), Aoife Walsh (Tralee District) and Christine Meehan (Lismore District).

The agency plans to launch a second recruitment drive later in the year for Seasonal Research Assistants.

Those interested in applying for a six-month Seasonal Fisheries Officer role can apply on-line at www.fisheriesireland.ie/careers, before the deadline of Monday, February 21^st 2022