THE Loughs Agency in Northern Ireland has become a partner in a project to track basking sharks.

The waters off east Inishowen are a hot spot for the species and it is hoped the project will assist in promoting the Foyle area as a shark-watching destination.

A tag will be attached to the fish to monitor their local feeding habits and seasonal migrations, and these movements will be available for public viewing via a web-based “shark tracker”.

Additional partners in the project include Queen’s University Belfast, Irish Basking Shark Study Group, Inishowen Development Partnership and Malin Head Community Association.

Meanwhile, the agency has secured €4m funding from the EU Interreg-IVA programme to implement a Marine Tourism and Angling Development project across the Foyle and Carlingford regions.

A current project involves habitat enhancement at the Mellon Beat on the River Strule. The aim is to improve infrastructure for game anglers and promote angling tourism.

Works include stile and fence erecting, car parking and in-stream habitat work.

Salmon escape
In a recent report in the Norwegian Alta Posten newspaper, between 10,000 and 15,000 farmed salmon escaped into the Kafjord River estuary. The local environmental agency allowed netting and rod fishing to try to remove the fish.

On Lough Owel
I enjoyed a great day's fishing with a boating friend, Tony Finn, on Lough Owel last Wednesday.

In almost perfect conditions we first tried the Carrigeens and Pumphouse shoreline with little success.

However, it was a different story as the day wore on, meeting some cracking trout, 10 in all, and kept two wild fish (one each), of about 1.5kg.

Czech mates
Karel Sourek from the Czech Republic, who caught a monster ferox trout of 11.3kg (25lbs) a couple of years ago, was back in Ireland recently to visit his friend Emil Bucko, who lives in Oughterard, Co Galway.

This was his fourth year in a row to visit Corrib in springtime, and while the high winds were not helpful, both Karel and Emil still managed to land some great fish. This time the best fish was a beautifully-marked trout of 7.8kg (15lb) that was sportingly released after a quick photograph.

Mental in Balisodare
It was another very encouraging week at Ballisodare Fishery with 39 salmon recorded. Among those to fish over the weekend were well known magician and mentalist Keith Barry and his father Ken. The pair caught a very respectable four salmon up to 4.1kg and released all but one.

Heaviest fish of the season thus far was caught by Vincent Brady with a great salmon of 6.7kg (14.5lb) on the fly.

Windy conditions
Hatches are well behind on Corrib, with olives only making their first appearance last week. Some fish have been spotted feeding just under the surface, although in the windy conditions hatching fly were difficult to observe.

Donal Connolly from Nonaim Lodge was out with guests from France on Sunday. The day was cold with strong northwest winds, but they landed three trout, and moved a few more. Donal and his wife Connie run a guesthouse at Glann, Oughterard. Call 085-736 4830, or see fishingcorrib.com.

Reasonable catches
Recent reports from Loughs Conn and Cullin suggest there is as yet no sign of any mayfly hatch, although good hatches of duckfly and olives have been observed. Anglers have reported reasonable catches, with some boats landing five fish for a day.

Near specimen
James Brennan (aged 14) from Moyglass, Co Wexford, recently caught and released a near specimen sea trout of 2.5kg while shore fishing in the Suir Estuary at Ballyhack, Co Wexford, on a cocktail bait of mackerel and ragworm.

According to his granddad, John Dunleavy, James is a keen angler and member of Kilmore Quay SAC junior section.

Conn competition
The annual Lough Conn & Cullin Anglers' Association two-day trout fly-fishing competition will take place on June 1st and 2nd from Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina, Co Mayo, with fishing both days from 11am until 6pm.

Entry fee is €100 with boat/engine or €130 angler only, and includes dinner each evening. Fantastic prizes on offer including Sheelin boat as first prize

Please send entries to Padraic Traynor, 086-6052687 or Michael Monaghan, 087- 2253433. Closing date for entries is May 24th.

angling@irishtimes.com