Fish scales may soon be used to identify species such as roach, rudd and their hybrids through genetic fingerprinting in a pilot study due to begin this year in conjunction with the zoology department at University College Dublin, according to the Irish Specimen Fish Committee's (ISFC) report for 2006.
Up until now the body of the fish was required for ratification from a host of closely-related species.
"This is a very exciting development, and if successful the technique may be adopted across all Irish freshwater and marine species," says ISFC chairman Trevor Champ. "However, until the project is refined we must rely on existing rules."
He also reiterated his call for vigilance regarding "irresponsible people" who attempt to import live non-native species into Ireland, and thanked the officers at Holyhead who intercepted live fish during the year.
In this regard, the Central Fisheries Board (CFB) and National Parks and Wildlife Service have published a calendar on alien species for 2007.
Free copies are available from CFB offices at Swords Business Campus, Balheary Road, Swords, Co Dublin, or www.cfb.ie.
Throughout the year four new "exotic" Irish records were established and 449 specimen claims ratified.
The gilthead bream, added to the list of eligible species last year with a qualifying weight of 1.4kg, was surpassed by 0.2kg to establish a new Irish record for Tony Tait from Yorkshire. And for good measure Tait added a specimen of 1.5kg.
Both fish were caught in Cork Harbour.
Noel Lane from Cork, holder of 20 different species of specimen fish, achieved the ultimate goal with a new Irish record Gold Grey Mullet of 1.19kg, narrowly beating his own record of 1.13kg established in 2003.
Jan de Bakglaar from the Netherlands enters the record books with an excellent torsk of 4.86kg while wreck-fishing with charter skipper Michael McVeigh out from Downings, Co Donegal, last June.
The fourth record for 2006, a trigger fish (Balistes carolinensis) of 2.54kg, fell to the distinguished writer and sea angler Bob Moss at Slea Head, Co Kerry, on hard backed crab.
Coalfish dominate the report with 92 specimens, all taken at Crosshaven, Courtmacsherry and Union Hall in west Cork.
Michael Conway is the recipient of the Dr Went special award for juveniles. Conway, from Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, qualified with a specimen blue shark of 59.9kg taken west of Innismurray Island, Co Sligo, in August.
The Minister's award is presented to the angler who catches a fish that represents the highest percentage of the existing record. This year's winner was John Millerick from Co Dublin who took a roach/bream hybrid of 3.09kg in Lough Derravaragh in May.
The Dr Michael Kennedy award for the best specimen mullet went to Noel Lane for a gilthead bream of 1.680kg.
The best specimen by an overseas angler, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland, went to Jan Tinnemans from the Netherlands for a river brown trout of 4.5kg from the River Corrib. Both of these awards are new.
The specimen committee is a voluntary body, founded in 1955, and is representative of all angling interests.
Its objective is to verify and record large fish caught on rod and line in Irish waters.
Presentation of awards will be held in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, on March 3rd. All anglers due for awards are invited.
• Raheny and District SAC is holding a Leinster League Open Shore Competition on January 7th at Clones and Kilgorman, Co Wexford.
Fishing times are 1pm to 6pm. Check-in is at the Golden Anchor, Castletown, from 10.30am. Entry fee €25. Contact 01-868 5665.