ANGLING NOTES:A LARGE portion of ice, twice the size of Manhattan, has parted from Greenland's Petermann glacier – a break researchers at the University of Delaware and Canadian Ice Service attributed to warmer ocean temperatures, according to the Washington Post newspaper.
The separation along Greenland’s northwest coast, which took place last Monday, is the second major calving event in the past three years. In August 2010, the Petermann glacier lost an area of 97 square miles, whereas 46 square miles split off last week.
Andreas Muenchow, associate professor of physical ocean science and engineering at Delaware University, says the glacier’s end point is now at “a location where it has not been for at least 150 years. Air temperatures are not very important, because 80 per cent of the melting of this glacier takes place from below, in the ocean,” he says.
From an angling perspective, climate change is one of several areas identified in the recently completed Salsea programme as a possible contributory factor to the decline of salmon returning to their native rivers.
The Ministerof State for Natural Resources, Fergus O'Dowd, has launched a smart phone app to help protect Ireland's natural resources. The launch also included invasive-species identification cards and a disinfection facility for salmon anglers.
Speaking at the Galway Weir fishery, the Minister says: “It is important that all technologies available are utilised to combat these disastrous invasions and I am delighted to harness the power of smart-phone technology.” The app allows users to photograph locations of potentially invasive species. The geo-referenced photos are then uploaded onto a central server for verification. If a new species is recorded, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) will implement its rapid response protocol and the sighting will be immediately investigated.
The app, developed in conjunction with the National Microelectronics Application Centre as part of the EU Inspired Habitats Project, is free to download from Google Play.
Discussions are also under way about how best to implement disinfection for anglers. “The level of co-operation received to date is most heartening,” says the IFI’s Dr Joe Caffrey.
Water conditionson the Moy Estuary were far from ideal over the past week, with the continuation of flood water causing difficulties for anglers. However, Mark and Danny O'Neill, from Co Wicklow (above), fishing with guide Judd Ruane, boated 12 sea trout, the majority of which fell to mackerel strip.
The DelphiClub in Bahamas is now closed for the hurricane season; however, the shutters will come off again in October and a busy season is expected, according to proprietor Peter Mantle.
He advises anglers to bring their spouses along to enjoy the Caribbean experience, saying there is nowhere nicer to escape to, whether with rod, reel and flybox or with swimsuit, snorkel and kindle, he says.
Over the past three seasons a boat can expect to bring in an average of six bonefish per day and to lose three or four more. “Everyone is assured of catching bonefish,” he adds.
Contact the Delphi Club, PO Box AB20006, Marsh Harbour, Abaco AB-20006, Bahamas, and see delphi-bahamas.com.
Detailsof a Hook Bass Angling Festival were announced last week in Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford. The three-day event is scheduled for October 26th-28th and will be held on a catch-and-release basis at locations on the Hook Peninsula. Call 051-397502 or see info@hooktourism.com.