The following information is factual and states the fundamental grounds of opposition to gillnets.

What are Gillnets?
"Gillnets are composed of fabric mesh attached to a lead line and a float line. Gill netting is the capture of fish by entanglement in a fabric mesh that is not actively moved by man or machine. Although gill netting requires little skill or special training, it requires two trips (one to deploy the net and one to collect the fish) and has the potential for vandalism of the gear. Gill netting also kills many fish caught in the net or injures fish upon removal. For this reason, gill netting must not be conducted in areas where endangered, threatened, or special-concern species may be present."
(The above is an extract from the Website of the "U.S. Geological Survey")


Gill nets and their use in "Stock Management"
· Gill nets are used each year by two of the Regional Fisheries Boards to remove Pike and other Coarse fish from a number of large waters where Wild brown trout and Pike co-exist with the aim of preserving the trout stock, under the auspices of scientific advice.
· The process of gill netting, contrary to the implementation of any work plan devised for the safe transfer of any fish captured therein, is irrefutably responsible for the indiscriminate and unselective death of, or damage to, most fish caught. · The effect of this is to destabilise the balance of the remaining stock, which is undeniably compounded by the removal or uncontrolled eradication of the "larger pike", the only natural predator of lesser pike.
· Proven scientifically, the removal of these "large pike" leads to a proliferation of small pike and further compounds the perception of a pike problem, thereby putting the trout stock under greater pressure. (According to "Inland Fisheries Trust" data; in 1961 over 5000 gill netted pike weighed 6 tonnes while in 1979, 13000 pike weighed 6.3 Tonnes. Figures from the "Inland Fisheries Trust" for the period 1968-1979 also showed a drop in the numbers of trout caught in the nets from 3035 to 543, therefore gillnetting did not improve trout numbers, but in fact clearly doubled pike numbers).


Negative impact of gillnets on angling tourism
· The specific use of gillnets by statutory bodies projects an image from Ireland to International pike anglers that there is no respect for the pike species.
· Major International pressure to prevent the planned stock management, by way of gillnetting, proposed under the 1994-1999 Tourism Operational Programme, almost jeopardised the project, but for an agreement reached between anglers and the Fisheries Boards. Anglers strongly believe the full terms of the agreement were not upheld.
· A general decline in quality pike fishing and the destruction of premium, world famous pike angling that existed on the Wild brown trout waters has turned British and European anglers to European "value for money" angling destinations.
· Bord Failte reports show a drop in the number of anglers visiting Ireland from 170,000 in 1996 to 89,000 in 2000, contrary to an expected peak at the end of the 1994-1999 TAM project of 240,000 as referenced to in Dail Eireann on 16th November 1994 by the then Minister for the Marine Mr. Andrews.
· Gillnetting irrefutably was and still is, partly to blame for a reduction in visiting pike anglers.


Health and Safety
· Under the 1989 Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, employers have a duty of care towards employee's and the public. The practise of gillnetting constitutes a workplace by the Fisheries Boards using them.
· Gillnets, which can stretch for over 400 yards are mostly unsupervised during the day and left in place overnight, being unmarked except for a buoy at either end, however the nets become partially submerged when fish enter, rendering them invisible.
· No accompanying warning signage on bank or water is used and no precautions to cordon off the area in order to prevent contact by anglers or other water users are undertaken.
· Anglers are becoming increasingly aware that risks exist, such as motor entanglement and the subsequent danger in attempting to become free of the net and also of the hypothetical situation where an angler or water user could in the event of an emergency, try to swim ashore unaware of the net's location or indeed presence and the posed threat to his or her life.
· The issues above are the very least expected in a Health & Safety plan applied to the use of Gillnets and by virtue of their neglect, suggest some statutory bodies are exempt from assessing risks concerning their activities.
This matter will be taken up with the Health & Safety Authority of Ireland.

Note: Pike anglers will continue to expose the truth about gillnets Nationally and Internationally, if necessary, to ensure a cessation of their use in Irish Fishery Management. PLEASE END THEIR USE NOW.

Return to Homepage