NEWS FOR "JULY 2004"
FROM THE IRISH FEDERATION OF PIKE ANGLING CLUBS


NEW REPORT SAYS RIVER SHANNON FISH STOCKS ARE HEALTHY

A report in the May article focused on a meeting held in Longford on the 30th March last, to discuss the growing concern regarding fish stocks and pollution on the River Shannon. Mary White of the Green Party, as a consequence of the concerns expressed by stakeholders of the River Shannon, stated at the meeting that the EU Petitions Committee had been called upon, to investigate these concerns.

Central Fisheries Board Stock Assessment Report
Subsequent to the meeting, the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board released a press statement on 17th May to try to address the concerns expressed over fish stocks. In the press statement, the Shannon Board referred to a recently released Fish Stock Assessment of the River Shannon between Drumsna and Rooskey. The Shannon Board had commissioned the Central Fisheries Board to carry out the assessment in 2003.

The findings of the stock assessment, which was undertaken using a combination of gill nets, fyke nets and electrofishing led the Central fisheries Board to the conclusion that fish stocks in the surveyed section were "healthy" and "should be capable of satisfying the requirements of an active coarse match and pleasure fishery". The results of the 2003 assessment were also compared to a survey the Central Board had carried out in 2000. The Central Board also indicated they had found no evidence to substantiate claims that fish stocks had been adversely affected by any pollution incident.

The assessment highlighted roach/bream hybrids and roach as being the dominant species with perch and bream next, although the bream were relatively small at 28cm fork length. The absence of larger bream was explained by the possibility that they may have migrated to spawn and angler's results in catching bream 35cm plus, in Loughs Boderg and Bofin were used to back up this conclusion. The assessment concluded that relatively small numbers of tench, rudd, brown trout and pike were evident. It was stated that less than twenty pike were recorded with the largest weighing just over six pounds. The report stated that although conditions were considered excellent for pike, the low numbers "may be indicative of a level of exploitation by continental anglers, who prize pike as a food item".

The stock assessment concluded "the community structure and relative abundance of fish in the surveyed section closely corresponded with that which could be expected in a natural, productive coarse fish river/lake complex". In response to a decline in angling catches the report concluded that this could in part be accounted for by fish moving to less intensively fished areas, as had been concluded from the 2000 survey where fish had been noted as moving across the river or a few hundred metres downstream.

Report Considered "Inaccurate and Misleading"
On 23rd May, a detailed press release by members of the Green Party, the Irish Water and Fish Preservation Society and independent anglers condemned the Central Fisheries Board report as "inaccurate and misleading".

The press release focused on four conclusions in the report, providing references to witness reports, independent water analysis and the views of domestic and overseas anglers. The four conclusions refuted, included the claim that there was "no evidence" found of pollution, that overfishing was thought to be the reason for fish moving, that "attractively priced" holidays elsewhere in Europe and not low fish stocks was responsible for a lack of visiting anglers and that there was reportedly a " large and healthy stock of coarse fish throughout the section surveyed".

Central to the press release was the theme that anglers are not visiting this area of the Shannon that once thrived and that anglers remain unconvinced that the Central Fisheries Board report has provided a true reflection of the status of the river.

In concluding the press release, both the Green Party and the IWFPS stated that they believed a reform of the EPA and of the granting and monitoring of "Pollution Control Licences" is urgently needed. They also highlighted the perceived need for the EPA to receive proper resources in order to carry out adequate independent testing.

Further Information The full text of the Central Fisheries Board report can be found on the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board website.


SOMETHING FISHY - LEARNING ABOUT FISH AND FISHING

On 31st May, in the Wexford Education Centre, Enniscorthy, the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, John Browne T.D. launched an education programme for primary schools. The programme, "Something Fishy", aims to educate fifth and sixth class primary school pupils about water, fish habitats and conservation and about fish and fishing. There will also be an emphasis placed on not only the pupils, but teachers in learning about all the respective local fish species present and their environment.

The programme includes an information resource pack, a full colour fish species poster and an e-learning initiative and has been developed by the Central Fisheries Board, the Blackrock and Monaghan Education Centres and the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Technology. The programme will be piloted in the Monaghan, Wexford and Dublin areas prior to nationwide expansion.

This is a welcome development from an angling perspective and should provide greater awareness of the importance of looking after our natural environment by instilling this ethos at a young age. It may also be of interest to local angling clubs to become involved in this initiative due to the level of local knowledge available regarding fish species and habitat and the possibility that a greater interest in angling may be generated among pupils, resulting in a possible future increase in junior membership.


MAVER ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Kiltimagh Angling Club ran the second qualifier on the 18th April. Ten anglers took part. Brian Mc Entee qualified for the U13 final in September.

The dates for the next junior qualifiers are as follows:
11th July, Newbridge, Co. Kildare
25th July, Dun-na-ri, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan
1st August, Keady, Co. Armagh
22nd August, Rossmore, Co. Monaghan

For further details on the junior championship, contact Youth Officer Finbar Meehan on 086 0711137.


KINGSPAN NATIONAL PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2004-05

The third heat was held on Garty Lough in Arvagh, Co. Cavan. 74 anglers fished the qualifier and caught 64 pike to 11-07. This was caught by a delighted Gary Quinn. The results were calculated in the Breffni Arms Hotel in Arvagh and the staff must be thanked for their hospitality.

The 5 who qualified to fish in the Final next April are;
1st Marty Lawlor (Belfast) 5 pike 20-02
2nd Gary Quinn (Drogheda) 2 pike 15-04
3rd Pat Brady (Kells) 3 pike 14-14
4th Pat Dunphy (Durrow) 2 pike 14-08
5th Benny Markey (Cootehill) 3 pike 13-00

The results of the fourth qualifier on 4th July on Lough Egish will be reported on, next month. The fifth qualifier will take place on Lough Urlaur, Kilkelly, Co. Mayo on 8th August.

For further details on the Kingspan National Pike Championship, contact Ibar Condron on 087 2488648 or John Chambers on 086 6057306.



July 2004

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