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



EU DIRECTIVES AND THE BIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF INLAND WATERS

Last months article contained a report on a seminar and workshop held on the 2nd and 3rd of June last regarding the new EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), which was attended by the IFPAC Environment Officer. In order to meet the objective of the WFD, which is to achieve good water quality status for all waters by 2015, Ireland has designated the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as the competent authority to oversee the implementation process.

Part of the requirements of the directive will be to carry out a National lake quality monitoring programme aimed at establishing the current lake water quality; to compare the quality with required standards; identify pollution incidences; assess the effectiveness of the measures undertaken within the eight respective river basin districts thereby highlighting any subsequent need for change and finally to establish a database of information on Irelands environmental quality.

At present, the EPA reports on the "Water quality in Ireland" of designated Rivers and Lakes, on a three yearly cycle. To date, only on Rivers and streams does a programme exist for the classification of waters based on biological analysis, which is basically a study of the respective ecosystems in order to determine the effects of pollution. Within the WFD, Lakes will now undergo biological analysis including that of fish stocks. How the analysis of fish stocks will take place could well be of concern.

Nordic Gillnets

At the seminar last June a number of methods to assess fish stocks were highlighted. These included, electro-fishing, hydro acoustics and use of various nets and traps. The attendees of the seminar heard that a standardised gillnet had been agreed at EU level for the assessment of stocks in deep water called the multi-mesh Nordic gillnet. This method is reported as being commonly used in national and regional fish sampling programmes in Sweden. Papers have been produced outlining the Nordic gillnet method as follows: The sampled lake is divided in depth strata and random sampling is performed within each depth stratum. Sampling of benthic fish is performed with NORDIC multi-mesh gillnets which are 30 m long and 1.5 m deep. The gillnets are composed of 12 different mesh-sizes ranging between 5 to 55 mm knot to knot following a geometric series. Gillnets used for sampling pelagic fish are 27.5 m long and 6 m deep, with the smallest mesh-size being 6.25 mm. The number of efforts needed to allow detection of 50% changes in relative abundance between sampling occasions, range between 8 gillnets per night (efforts) for small, shallow lakes, up to 64 efforts for lakes of about 5 000 ha. As reported last month, it is estimated that it will take up to 3 years to carry out the initial base assessments, which we believe is to begin in 2006. Fish stock assessments will then take place on a three-year cycle.

Fisheries Affected

It is our understanding that designated lakes above 50 hectares are to receive biological analysis. According to a discussion document produced by the EPA termed "National Lake Water Quality Monitoring Programme", 205 lakes have been chosen to satisfy the biological monitoring requirements of the WFD. Many of these lakes have not been gillnetted in any way before now, while others have. A number of the lakes for example, designated as WFD >50 ha within the EPA document are: Lough Muckno, Lough Egish, Lough Avaghon, Drumlona Lough, Lough Ramor, Lough Sillan, Tacker Lough, Lough Gowna, Lough Oughter, Lough Forbes, Kilglass Lough, Lough Key, Lough Ree, Templehouse Lough, Lough Gara, Lough Gill, Lough Derg, Blessington Reservoir, Lough Derravaragh, Lough Iron, Lough Glore, Lough Mask, Derryhick, Levally Lough, Lough Urlaur, Lough Graney, Inchiquinn Lough, Doon Lough, Lough Allua and Inniscarra Reservoir.

At present, it appears undecided who will carry out the sampling of fish stocks. The Central Fisheries Board does not have the manpower or resources to carry out the level of testing required and therefore it may fall on an independent or private body to do so. At present it is also unclear at what frequency the sampling will take place. IFPAC is seeking a meeting with the EPA to try to clarify the issue of fish stock assessments within the WFD.

An improvement in water quality under the WFD has to be welcomed but an over-riding concern has to be the level of fish mortalities, which could take place within the implementation of the directive. Indeed, fish should not become expendable, particularly in the face of any apprehension to introduce effective measures to improve water quality.


NITRATES DIRECTIVE

This Directive has been the focus of media attention, particularly over the last number of months. Introduced in 1991, it has the objective of reducing water pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources. It imposes a limit on the amount of organic nitrogen (livestock manure) that can be applied to agricultural land per year at the rate of 170kgs/hectare. The Directive allows for a general limit of 210kgs/hectare for a transition period. From 1991 to 2003 the Directive was ignored by Ireland for the most part. Under threat of court action by the EU, the Government commenced the consultation process in 2003.

The Nitrates Directive generally requires Member States to: -

· monitor waters and identify waters which are polluted or are liable to pollution by nitrates from agriculture
· establish a code of good agricultural practice to protect waters from such pollution
· promote the application by farmers of the code of good agricultural practice
· identify the area or areas to which an action programme should be applied to protect waters from pollution by nitrates from agriculture
· develop and implement action programmes to reduce and prevent pollution in the identified areas: action programmes are to be implemented and updated on a four-year cycle
· monitor the effectiveness of action programmes, and
· report to the EU Commission on progress

Public Consultation

On the 19th December 2003, The Government released the first 'Draft Nitrates Action Programme' consultation document. Some of the issue contained within the document included; Timing of land application of fertilisers, Procedure for the application of fertilisers, Manure Storage Requirements, Limits on the land application of fertilisers, Limits on land application of livestock manure and Record Keeping.

The Limits on land application of livestock manure received heightened public exposure due to the perceived impact that the rate of spread of 170kgs/hectare would have on the livelihoods and competitiveness of a large number of dairy farmers. The IFA put forward the case that Ireland should apply to receive a derogation allowing 250kgs/hectare per annum. For the past number of months the, IFA, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Agriculture and Food and An Teagasc have been at loggerheads over this issue. An Teagasc have now compiled the scientific data required in order to apply to the EU for the derogation.

Land Application of Fertilisers

With regard to the procedure for the application of fertilisers contained within the December 2003 draft document the following parameters were proposed:

Chemical fertilisers shall not be applied to any land within 1.5m of any watercourse.

Non-Chemical fertilisers, shall not be applied to any land:
within 10 metres of any watercourse;
within 20 metres of a lake or main river channel; and
within 50 metres of a domestic well or drinking water source.

Fertilisers shall not be applied to any land where the ground slopes steeply and where, taking into account other factors such as proximity to watercourses, soil condition, ground cover and rainfall there is risk of causing water pollution. Fertilisers shall not be applied to any land where: the land is waterlogged; the land is frozen; and the land is covered by snow. Practices and/or procedures for the land application of fertilisers shall ensure that fertiliser is applied to land in as accurate and uniform a manner as is practicably possible so as to prevent or minimise nutrient losses to water.

IFPAC Submission

IFPAC made a submission regarding the initial draft action programme, highlighting the need for greater buffer zones around all watercourses and by doing so, apply the precautionary principle in the interests of avoiding the likelihood as far as practically possible of further pollution from the process of fertiliser spreading, chemical or organic.

The Government on 9th of July released the second Draft Nitrates Action Programme consultation document. Unfortunately, none of our views were taken on board and the application of fertilisers were proposed as follows:

Chemical fertilisers shall not be applied to any land within 1.5m of a surface water body (defined as a lake, river, stream, reservoir, canal, a transitional water or stretch of coastal water).

Livestock manure, other organic fertilisers and soiled water should not be applied to land:
within 10 metres of a surface water body,
within 15 metres of exposed cavernous (Karsified) limestone or karst limestone features such as swallow holes and collapse features,
within 50 metres of a borehole, spring or well within specified areas around designated groundwater source protection zones.

Obviously, the buffer strips proposed in the latest draft action programme would represent an absolute minimum requirement and are a cause for concern as such. This is particularly so when bearing in mind that the nitrates directive is one of a number of directives ultimately feeding into the Water Framework Directive. Eutrophication is one of Ireland's most serious pollution problems. Industry, waste water treatment plants and single dwelling waste treatment systems all contribute to this water quality problem but it can only be hoped that the agricultural sector distances itself from other sectors as a contributor by adopting a more proactive approach to tackling eutrophication than is shown in parts of the proposed action programme.

The deadline for submissions on the second action programme was 3rd August. It was reported though in the Irish Farmers Journal on 17th July that the Department of the Environment would be willing to take submissions up until the end of September. IFPAC made a further submission before the original deadline.


RIVER BASIN DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCILS

Within the Water Framework Directive it will be necessary to set up advisory councils for each River Basin District (RBD). The function of these councils will be to consider matters relating to the preparation of RBD management plans and to consider all matters relating to the protection and use of the aquatic environment within their particular district. The councils will then be responsible for advising and making recommendations to their respective local authorities. The councils will last for a term of five years and will exist as the forum for direct dialogue between stakeholders, interested parties and the relevant local authorities. The advisory councils are to be established by the 22nd December 2004.

Membership

Guidelines on the membership of the advisory councils has been suggested by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as follows: Membership will comprise of approximately 20 to 50 persons depending on the number of participating local authorities made up of: Councillors and local authority officials; 2 members of the environmental strategic policy committee of each participating local authority; 2 Agriculture; 2 Economic; 2 Environmental Non Government Organisations; 2 Recreational; 2 Professional/Academic; 2 Social/Community and Voluntary (Community and Voluntary Fora); and other such persons considered appropriate by the local authorities e.g. Fisheries Boards.

It would appear that anglers have not been designated as stakeholders and therefore only two options, that of the Recreational users and community and voluntary fora are open to us, if we wish to have greater participation in the development and implementation of RBD management plans. It will be very important that as anglers, we use every opportunity and avenue to collectively voice our opinion on matters in the WFD that will ultimately affect us.

MAVER ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

The final of the 'Maver' junior pike championship will take place on the 19th September.
For further details on the junior championship, contact Youth Officer Finbar Meehan on 086 0711137.


KINGSPAN NATIONAL PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2004-05

The fifth qualifier took place on Lough Urlaur in Co. Mayo on a day, which saw angler's fish through gale winds and heavy rain. Only 13 pike to 3-15 were landed.

The 5 who qualified to fish in the Final are:
1st. P.J.Brogan (Ballina) 3 pike 10-09
2nd. Finbar Meehan (Longford) 3 pike 6-01
3rd. John Chambers (Dublin) 2 pike 4-06
4th. Jim McCabe (Newbridge)1 pike 3-15
5th. Ibar Condron (Tullamore) 1 pike 3-00


The results of the sixth qualifier, which was held on Lough Avaghon on 5th September, will be reported on, next month. The seventh qualifier will take place on 10th October on the River Shannon, Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly. For further details on the Kingspan National Pike Championship, contact John Chambers on 086 6057306 or Ibar Condron on 087 2488648.


September 2004

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