Following the publication of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water quality review, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has expressed its disappointment at the findings. The agency cautioned against singling out any particular sector for the standard in water quality across Ireland’s river basins and lakes.
“IFI is grateful to the farming community for their continued consideration and vigilance. Good farmyard management can help to prevent accidental runs of polluting substances and protect the local environment,” said IFI’s chief executive, Dr Ciaran Byrne.
There were 31 fish kills across the country last year, but just eight attributable to agricultural activities. In addition, two were as a result of municipal works and one by industrial works. In four instances, the exact cause was difficult to ascertain while 16 incidents were as a result of disease and natural causes.
More than 22,000 environmental inspections were carried out in 2016 across industrial, forestry, engineering, water treatment, farmyards and windfarm sites to help identify any risks and prevent damage to the local aquatic habitat.
National Heritage Week
Meanwhile, almost 300 children and adults took part in a public initiative at Glenveagh National Park, Donegal on Sunday last to mark National Heritage Week.
Given that the theme was water, fisheries staff brought along an aquarium with brown trout and salmon of different year classes and those in attendance heard talks on the various species present in Glenveagh Park.
Children were given a fish species poster and book, and a catch-photo-release (#CPRsavesfish) wristband as part of the campaign to highlight a method of angling where a fish is caught and returned unharmed back into the water.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) teamed up with Newport City Council and local angling clubs to save more than 15,000 fish at Fourteen Locks, a land-locked section of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.
A breach in this section of the canal caused water to leak out and drop to a critically low level, putting the lives of fish in danger. The mixed coarse fish of roach, carp, bream and rudd were captured using nets and electric fishing techniques and transported to safety further up the canal.
NRWs Jon Goldsworthy, said: “We knew we had to act quickly as the water and oxygen levels were falling quickly. Newport City Council, who own the site, will continue to monitor the canal and put plans in place to fix the leak and move any remaining fish.”
Freshwater Detective Course
Ken Whelan’s Freshwater Detective Course will again be available this autumn in UCD. The course forms an ideal introduction for the new Atlantic Salmon Trust – Small Streams Characterisation System Course and examines Ireland’s unique resource: its sources and origin, its biological diversity and importance for the landscape and humans.
It will teach students the basics of becoming a freshwater detective and how, using the presence or absence of specific insects or fish, to read a river corridor or lake shore and to detect the presence of key predators such as otter and mink.
The course will comprise six talks and three field visits – UCD Belfield: Six Mondays from 7-9pm. Classroom: Oct 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, Nov 6th, 13th. Three Field Trips: Oct 14th (3 hrs, River Rye Water, Kildare); Nov 4th (3 hrs , River Dodder, Dublin); Nov 18th (2 hrs, Sea World, Bray). Fee: €195. Booking: all@ucd.ie or phone 01 716 7581.
Trout
Larry McCarthy of Corrib View Lodge said trout were rising on olives in a few select bays and sedge fishing was enjoyed in many areas of the lake. Vaughn Ruckley from the UK had good fishing on three days with seven fish up to 2kg. David Reed Scott and his brother Mattie also had three days with fish up to 2.3kg. Greenfields, Inchagoill and Ballynalty were the most productive areas.
In the Greenfields area, Braitreacht Na Coiribe hosted the Tony Tighe Open Classic (heaviest fish) on Sunday last with 40 anglers catching 19 fish. Results: 1, H O’Toole (Galway), 1.83kg; 2, P O’Toole (Galway), 1.42kg; 3, P Kavanagh (Kilbeg), 1.08kg; 4, B McInerney (Ennis), 1.06kg.
Interprovincial competition
Leinster emerged as clear winners at last weekend’s Interprovincial competition on Lough Mask with Leinster’s Dave Egan taking overall pole position with nine trout. Although conditions were tough, the 36 anglers managed 151 fish and with conservation to the forefront, all fish were recorded and released.
Results: 1, Leinster, 44 fish, 6,380pts; 2, Munster, 37f, 5,610pts; 3, Connaught, 37f, 4,890pts; 4, Ulster, 33f, 4,490pts. Heaviest fish: Tom Sweeney (Munster); 48cm.
angling@irishtimes.com
