Sir, - I refer to the article "Out of the West" by Michael Finlan (April 22nd). The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board first became aware of the extent of dying bream on Lough Ree on April 3rd, 4th, 1996. As soon as we had investigated the reports and ascertained the extent of the problem, we immediately notified the Department of the Marine, the ESB (the fishery owners), and the Central Fisheries Board. As the Shannon Board had not the facilities to carry out the necessary scientific investigation it was decided that as the ESB were carrying out a major fish health programme through UCG that they should carry out the investigation on Lough Derg.
Over the Easter weekend and throughout the following days, UCG, the ESB and Shannon Board staff worked together to gather the information necessary to identify the cause of the problem. The Department of the Marine and the Central Fisheries Board were kept fully informed of the progress of this investigation and discussion took place at a senior level to review the present strategy for dealing with coarse fish health problems and put in place new measures if required.
There was and is no "haphazard approach" to the bream situation by this board or other agencies as quoted by Ms Peacock of Greenpeace in your article.
In May 1994, following similar coarse fish health problems, the ESB, at the request of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Boards embarked on a major research programme on Lough Ree, Lough Derg and the river Suck. The results of these investigations are due to be issued shortly.
As stated in our press release of April 4th, 1996, the board is fully aware of the damage which coarse fish health problems can cause to our angling tourism industry and are doing everything within our resources to ensure that the problems are understood and effective systems are put in place to deal with the problems if possible. - Yours, etc.,
Chief Officer,
The Shannon Regional
Fisheries Board,
Thomond Weir,
Limerick.