Sport

Angling Notes: Call for contributions to invasive species action plan

Plan seeks ways to reduce inadvertent spread of invasive plants, animals and parasites

Curly leaved waterweed (Lagarosiphon major) on Lough Corrib. Photograph: Courtesy of Dr Joe Caffrey

Derek Evans
Fri Jan 28 2022 - 17:14

The National Biodiversity Data Centre has opened a public consultation on behalf of the National Parks and Wildlife Service towards an angling action plan for Ireland’s invasive species.

Those involved in angling are being encouraged to make submissions as plants, animals or parasites can be unintentionally transported as stowaways with angling and fishing equipment.

There is an increased potential for the inadvertent spread of alien species such as zebra mussels, Asian clam or crayfish plague on fishing and angling equipment from infested to uninfested waters. Invasive plants that can cause problems for fishing include curly leaved waterweed.

The aim of the plan is to reduce the risk of these species being introduced to Ireland and spread from one water body to another by angling activities.

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Successful enactment will support the implementation of regulation and policy and ultimately reduce the impacts on water bodies, ecosystem services and the socio-economic benefits from them.

The draft public consultation is available to download atinvasives.ie/biosecurity/pathway-action-plans/

Comments can be submitted until February 1st, 2022 to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage at invasivepathways@housing.gov.ie.

In 2009, a similar project was launched by Caisie (acronym for Control of Aquatic Invasive Species and Restoration of Natural Communities in Ireland), which identified 14 invasive species. The project was scheduled for completion in 2013.

Dishwasher pollution

Natural Resources Wales has successfully prosecuted Lane Cakes Ltd for prolonged pollution of the Wedal Brook in Cardiff in South Wales. The company was fined £26,300 (€31,500) after pleading guilty to polluting the stream with wastewater from its bakery on Maes-y-Coed Road.

The dishwasher had wrongly been connected to the surface water sewer, rather than the foul sewer. The company has since fixed the connection and now all its wastewater enters the foul sewer and is sent to a treatment plant.

Michael Evans of South Wales Central, said: "We hope the outcome of this case clearly demonstrates that anyone polluting Wales' rivers will be pursued through the courts if necessary and could face large fines due to their actions."

Trout contest

Waterford City and County Trout Anglers' Association is holding a round of the Scierra Pairs on Knockaderry Reservoir on Saturday, March 5th, 2022. Entry fee is €90 for two anglers. Each angler will receive a 'goodie bag' from Scierra and the winning duo will get entry into the overall final in Wales in August, plus a Scierra fleece.

As there are still a few places left, please call Michael Sheehan on 086 107 3086 without delay.

If you have an angling story to share, please send to me at angling@irishtimes.com.

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