1.1
Pike are widely distributed in Ireland, being present in a large number of our rivers, lakes and canals. The estimated number of quality pike angling waters in Ireland exceeds 500. Pike are an important component of the national angling resource and provide sport and recreation for large numbers of domestic and tourist anglers.

1.2
Pike thrive in the majority of Irish waters and quickly establish themselves as the top fish predator. In the most productive freshwaters pike can grow to 40lb, although fish of this size are rare. Many waters, however, support good numbers of 10, 20 and even 30lb fish. These large pike are the principal quarry of the specialist pike angler. Waters, noted for their capacity to consistently produce specimen pike, include the large alkaline wild trout lakes and big river systems such as the Shannon, Suck, Inny and Liffey.

1.3
There is some evidence to suggest that there has been a decline in the number of visiting specialist pike anglers to the country. While there are no categorical figures available, estimates based on limited sampling, published in the Bord Failte Market Planning Report for 2001, indicate a 30% decline in the 20 year pike angler visitor average. If substantiated, this decline in visitors represents a significant loss of revenue to the State, although the real economic value is difficult to determine.

1.4
The reasons for a possible decline in pike angling tourist numbers are unclear but relate to changes in water and habitat quality, over exploitation in a number of waters and a perception among some pike anglers that the quality of the Irish pike angling is in decline and is inferior to that on offer in other European destinations. New competition from abroad is also a factor. Furthermore, there is a perception among pike anglers, that pike culling in a small number of Irish lakes, particularly using gill nets, impacts on the attractiveness of these lakes as pike angling destinations and that this has a knock on effect on the attractiveness of Ireland as a pike angling destination.

1.5
In an effort to redress concerns regarding the over exploitation of pike in Irish watercourses a pike conservation bye-law was introduced in 1990. It is noteworthy that Ireland remains the only country in Western Europe where legislation has been introduced to protect pike stocks.

1.6
Current fisheries management practice, based on scientific advice, in a number of wild brown trout lake fisheries in the Western, North Western and Shannon Regions (Appendix 7) with respect to pike is that:

· In these lakes pike are acknowledged as significant trout predators and are controlled accordingly.

· Pike are removed from these lakes, on a targeted basis, primarily using gill nets. More recently, electro-fishing equipment has been used for this purpose.

· On removal from the gill nets, the pike are killed or transferred alive into specific target waters.

1 .7
Pike are present in a large number of other Irish water bodies (canals, rivers and lakes). Fisheries management practices in these waters are non-interventionist and are dedicated to the conservation of the pike in accordance with the current fisheries and habitat legislation.

1.8
In a number of lakes managed as put and take fisheries, pike are removed to alleviate predation using a combination of gill nets and electro-fishing equipment.

1.9
The functions of the Central Fisheries Board, as set out in the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1999, are to promote, support, facilitate and coordinate, where necessary, and to advise the Minister on policy relating to the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries. As part of the Central Fisheries Boards ongoing policy advisory function and in recognition of changing status of pike as an angling resource, a Working Group was established in May, 2002, to review policy and strategy for the management of pike and pike angling in Ireland.

1.10
The Regional and Central Fisheries Boards also provide a fisheries protection service that enforces the Fisheries Acts 1959-2000 as they pertain to the protection of fisheries (1) in inshore and inland waters and to the protection of freshwater biodiversity (2)

(1) - (Fisheries include salmon, trout, coarse fish, eels, molluscs, sea bass).

(2) - National heritage within the meaning of the Heritage Act, 1995 (conservation species, other flora and fauna, habitats and the biodiversity of inland water systems).

1.11
The members of the Working Group were:

· Dr. Philip McGinnity (Chairman), Director of Protection & Conservation, Central Fisheries Board,
· Dr. Joe Caffrey, Senior Research Officer, Central Fisheries Board,
· Mr. Michael Fitzpatrick, Fisheries Inspector, Northern Regional Fisheries Board,
· Mr. Eamon Cusack, Chief Executive Officer, Shannon Regional Fisheries Board,
· Mr. Michael Kennedy, Chief Executive Officer, Western Regional Fisheries Board,
· Ms. Lorraine Flanagan (Secretary to the group), Co-ordinator Catchment Management, Central Fisheries Board.

1.12
The terms of reference for the Working Group were:

· To develop a national policy for the management of Ireland's pike fishery resource.
· To develop a national strategy for the implementation of the identified policy.
· To establish a plan, with appropriate performance indicators, to provide for the delivery of the strategy.

1.13
In undertaking the review the following factors were to be considered:

· A description of the resource as it currently exists.
· Factors impacting on the resource.
· Cost benefit and value for money of pike as an angling species, including economic, socio-economic and recreational value.
· Interaction of pike with other freshwater angling and conservation fish species.
· Options for the future long-term sustainable management and development of the resource.

1.14
The methodology for the review set out was:

· To establish a Working Group from experienced and expert personnel within the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards. · To make a call for written submissions from all interested parties and from the public.
· To consult with the national pike angling representatives.
· To convene a workshop of invited stakeholders and experts in the area
· To draft a report on all deliberations, with detailed and considered recommendations.
· To present the report to the Central and Regional Fisheries Board, the National Fisheries Management Executive and the Operational Management Team.

1.15
A call for written submissions was made in the national and angling press in October 2002 (Appendix 1). The deadline for submissions was the 20 December 2002. An extension to the deadline was granted for 10 January 2003. One hundred and five (105) submissions were received (Appendix 2).

1.16
The substantive issues identified in the submissions can be summarised as follows:

· Deterioration in water and habitat quality.
· Changes in fish community structure in response to water quality deterioration
· The use of gill nets for the removal of pike.
· Pike transfer.
· Pike disease.
· Conservation measures for trout.
· Pike as a predator in trout fisheries.
· The pike bye laws.
· Enforcement of fisheries legislation pertaining to pike.
· Representation of pike anglers on the Regional Fisheries Boards.
· Loss of pike angling revenue to the national economy.
· Conservation of pike.
· The Irish pike angling product as perceived internationally.
· Outdated pike angling package.
· Introductions of exotics.
· Access to fishing.
· Lack of funding for research.
· Catch and release.
· Pike predators (e.g. mink, cormorants).

1.17
The pike review group met on three occasions (Appendix 3).

1.18
A workshop was convened on the 12 June 2003 at the Knockranny Hotel in Westport, Co. Mayo. The workshop chairman was Dr. Philip McGinnity (Appendix 4). A list of participants is included in Appendix 5.

1.19
Oral presentations at the workshop (Appendix 6) were made by:

· Mr. David Overy, Chairman, Irish Pike Society
· Mr. John Chambers, Chairman, Irish Federation of Pike Anglers
· Mr. Michael Fitzpatrick, Inspector, Northern Regional Fisheries Board
· Mr. Matt Hayes, Managing Director, Total Fishing Adventures. (Television and print media journalist)
· Dr. Joe Caffrey, Senior Research Officer, Central Fisheries Board

1.20
The workshop discussion, which followed the oral presentations, was organised under five major headings:

· Resource information deficit (current status, distribution and general ecology of pike in Ireland).
· Resource protection and the protection deficit.
· Specific representation for pike angling interests on Fisheries Boards.
· Changing perceptions of the pike angling product at home and abroad.
· Partitioning and designation of the resource:
- pike as a constraint on trout production,
- pike removal methodologies.

1.21
The consensus position issued from the meeting:

1. Pike are an important component of a national-angling asset.
2. The perception abroad is that pike angling in Ireland is not as attractive as it once was.
3. Ireland, potentially, has the best pike angling in the world.
4. Research is urgently required to identify and quantify the biological and economic status of the pike and the pike angling resource.
5. The marketing strategy for the total angling product, including pike, needs to be updated.
6. Communication channels need to be improved.
7. The pike bye-laws need to be changed according to prevailing consensus.
8. Trout will be preferentially managed in a select number of identified fisheries, but this management will be sympathetic to the conservation, protection and marketing needs of large pike in these waters.

1 .22
Having considered the terms of reference, the submissions, the consensus from the workshop and the statutory remit of the Central Fisheries Board, the Working Group offer recommendations in relation to:

· the formulation of a pike policy for the Central Fisheries Board
· the best strategy for the implementation of that policy
· a plan to provide for the delivery of the strategy.




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