Public Statement Sent to Newspapers in The Shannon Region in March/April 2004 Regarding End of Boycott:

The Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs (IFPAC) ended its boycott of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board's "managed waters" at its AGM on 7th March.

The boycott of the managed waters, which included such venues as the River Suck, River Inny, Lough Derravaragh, Lough Owel, and Lough Ennell, was instigated in January 2003 in response to a coarse angling permit being introduced by the SHRFB to fish these waters. The fundamental objection of IFPAC to the new permit concerned the SHRFB's practice of using "gillnets" to remove Pike and other coarse fish from a number of these waters. The view of IFPAC on the practice of gillnetting, in which countless thousands of fish are strangled and die every year was conveyed to the SHRFB through public and political avenues throughout the boycott in the hope that this particularly barbaric practice would end.

The Federations position on the boycott was reviewed at the AGM in light of written and verbal information received from the SHRFB in the weeks prior to the AGM. In short, while the SHRFB have indicated that they will continue to carry out stock management on their Brown Trout waters, a review of their stock management programme on these waters has resulted in a proposal that non-destructive methods (electrofishing) are used in 2004 and 2005 on a trial basis, with the return of all pike over 80cm ensured. However, while it has been stated that no gillnets will be used during this period except for scientific purposes, the SHRFB have also stated that they reserve the right to revert to the use of gillnets if the electrofishing is ineffective or the funds unavailable. It must be stated at this point that IFPAC do not agree that stock management is necessary. This view is strengthened further where environmental degradation is known to be the real cause of angling decline on some of these waters and a factor, which is not fully addressed within current scientific advice, regarding stock management.

While a note of scepticism was expressed questioning the sincerity of the SHRFB in wishing to end their use of gillnets, the democratic decision taken by the attending affiliated clubs at the AGM was to end the boycott. This decision was taken on the basis of this recent correspondence and to some extent in good faith, in the hope that this will now lead to a complete cessation of the SHRFB's use of gillnets. However, while the Federation has revised it's position and are optimistic for the future, a decision to recommence an intensive public campaign was agreed at the AGM, should gillnets be used again.

The executive committee of the Federation would like to thank all of the affiliated clubs, particularly those living within the boycotted area for their firm support throughout 2003.

The Federation has been sympathetic to the position of the angling tourism industry throughout the campaign. We held the belief that the permit would further impact on an industry that has suffered substantial loses in business and revenue in past years, due to a number of factors and indeed suffered further collapse in 2003. However, we have not seen a concerted public effort from this sector over the past year and would now concede that the tourism sector may not necessarily see the permit as creating a difficulty for them. It is difficult to assess at this time if the introduction of this permit into what was traditionally a free pursuit and attractive as such to domestic and overseas anglers, will have any repercussions in the future on coarse angling waters throughout Ireland.

IFPAC welcomes the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board's move away from the use of gillnets. In the spirit of co-operation, we would now embrace the opportunity to work closely with the SHRFB in confronting a number of key issues that affect the availability of quality coarse and game angling throughout Ireland. These include water quality, pollution, habitat destruction, falling fish stocks and illegal fish removal.

The Federation would also welcome the opportunity to promote the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board area through it's website www.angling-in-ireland.com.

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