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The Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs |  |
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Shannon
Regional Fisheries Board reply to Mr Eamon Ryan TD, Re:
Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs
Further to your correspondence on the issues
raised by the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs Federation,
I wish to take this opportunity to outline the Boards views on the
matter. Within this Region, there are hundreds of lakes and thousands of miles of river which are utilised by many types of anglers, Trout, Salmon, Coarse, Pike and the Board seeks to cater for all their needs. The Boards first role, however, is to seek to protect the vulnerable stocks of fish which are threatened by pollution, habitat degradation and other issues. The issues raised by the Federation are two separate issues, which they have chosen to link and as a result have created certain confusion. Indeed the leadership of the Federation have stated to the Board that they are willing to pay the permit fee if the removal of pike ceases. However the Board is concerned with the campaign being waged by some Pike Anglers. Their antics abroad in seeking to sabotage Irish Angling tourism and their threatening of Fishery staff in this Board and other Boards is regrettable. Shannon Board Permit Within the Shannon Fisheries Region there are hundreds of lakes and hundreds of River whose fishing rights are owned or controlled by various individuals, Angling clubs and State bodies. The Shannon Board has some of these fishing rights, which it promotes under the brand name "Midland Fisheries" group. We have 5 main catchments in this group see attached list, which should not be confused with the rest of the Shannon Region where the Board does not have the fishing rights. While a number of waters in the "Midland Fisheries" group are better known as Trout and Salmon waters, others are renowned for the high quality of Coarse and Pike angling they offer. Indeed in 2002, of the specimen pike officially reported in Southern Ireland, over 60% were caught on our "Midland Fisheries Group" with 95% caught in the Shannon Region. The board has had a Permit charge on the "Midland Fisheries" for Trout Angling for many years. In reviewing its management and the fees charged for its fisheries in 2002, the Board agreed that it was unfair to charge one angler to fish for one species while another angler fishing for a different species, on the same water, was not charged. The cost of managing the "Midland Fisheries" has also greatly increased over the years and the Board felt that coarse anglers who utilise our fisheries should contribute to this cost. It should be noted that while a permit charge is in existence on the "Midland Fisheries" no charge is made on the main River Shannon or other fisheries whose fishing rights are not under the control of the Shannon Board. The cost of an annual permit is 35euro for which an angler can fish for any species on all 27 waters within the regulations of those fisheries. A tourist angler will only pay 18euro for a 21day permit, which is excellent value. In Europe and the UK an angler would pay this and more for only one days fishing. By purchasing a Board permit, an angler not only benefits from fishing on Board waters but also contributes to the conservation and development of the fish and their habitats. All the permit income is reinvested in the conservation and management of the "Midland Fisheries" with the additional funds raised from the coarse fish extension going to coarse fish conservation and management. · In
the Midland Fisheries, the Board has taken action to prevent and
eliminate water pollution and environmental damage, the greatest
threat to all fish stocks. In deliberations on this issue, the Board considered the impact any charge might have on tourist interest in the waters concerned and are of the view that no serious impact should occur. It has been the Board's experience, in recent years, that where tourist anglers are informed that funds raised through angling permits are reinvested in the fishery, they are willing to contribute. The angling tourist sector must realise that unless investment is made in the conservation and development of this sector, as happens in all other sports such as golf, horse riding, walking etc., angling will become unsustainable. Sustainability in the commercially driven economic climate we live in will not be achieved unless those who actively participate in the sport are willing to contribute in some small way to its continuation. The contribution made by visiting anglers will ensure that the Midland Fisheries will continue to have sustainable angling that will enable the angling tourism product to be sustained and developed. The Board is willing to work with local interests to improve angling promotion on these fisheries, which have excellent angling available. The Board recognises the drop in angling tourism numbers, Bord Failte figures show a drop from 130,000 in 1996 of visiting anglers to 87,000 in 2002. The decrease in the Shannon region is due to many factors effecting tourism generally and angling in particular. The extension of the permit fee and the gillnetting on 6 small waters is not a major factor. The decline in angling generally is due to poor water quality and declining habitat, which in turn has lead to a reduction in fish stocks throughout the country. The other major impacts on tourist angling numbers are the changing requirements of tourist anglers and competition from abroad. In the 60's and 70's the UK anglers had very little choice of where to fish, except Ireland, which was cheap, easy to access and offering a good product. Today there are many venues all over Europe which offer good angling and value for money. I attach some views given recently by Mr Matt Hayes, a noted UK coarse angling journalist which highlights the issues. These are the real angling tourism issues, which need to be addressed. Trout Management and Predator Control The Board recognises the value of Pike as a fish species in its own right and as an asset in the promotion of angling tourism. Together with all fish species we aim to protect and develop Pike in areas suitable for them and without damaging other native stocks. The removal of Pike, who predate on trout is a recognised fishery management practice. The rational for this management practice is outlined in the attached paper by Dr. Martin O' Grady Senior Research Officer with the Central Fisheries Board. Gill nets have been the main method used for fish predator control, as it is efficient and effective. As the nets are strategically placed during a short period of the year they do not take large numbers of other fish nor do they kill large numbers of birds. The Board in recognising the value of the Pike and the changing perception by Irish anglers have reviewed their operational practices over the years. We have for some time fished in a manner, which allows us to remove alive some pike, caught to other suitable waters. Recent studies show that these fish survive this movement. The Board continues to seek new methods of catching Pike without gill nets, such as Electro fishing which allows all fish captures to be moved alive and resources permitting we hope to develop further this new technology. In the Region, we have over one thousand waters, which hold pike, and only on 6 waters do we carry out a predator control programme. These six waters are designated as Trout Fisheries and managed as such. On four of the waters Acalla, Pallas, O'Flynn and Owell the Board has an active stocking policy and stocks out over 20,000 brown trout per year. The Board removes approximately 300 - 600 Pike per annum from these fisheries and all live fish are transferred to other suitable waters. In respect of the other two fisheries, Lough Sheelin where 1866 pike removed and Ennell where 527 pike were removed, are classified as Wild Brown Trout Fisheries and part of only 12 such lakes left in Europe. Dr. Martin O' Grady, Senior Research Officer with the Central Fisheries Board, has stated that Lough Sheelin is "a unique ecological resource". Unfortunately the pollution of the lake, over 30 years, has caused a serious imbalance in fish populations and it is an effort to control this imbalance that the Board removes fish. As a result and following the introduction of other coarse fish, the unique Trout stocks are under serious pressure. This unique resource must be protected and the battle against pollution must continue. Until such time as the natural balance is returned to the lake through the elimination of pollution. The Board will do all in its power to ensure the Wild Brown Trout are saved from extinction. Pike are not in danger of extinction in such waters and therefore the removal of Pike, who predate heavily on the remaining trout, is necessary. The Board has met with Pike Federation on a number of occasions and listened to their concerns. It has supported many of them. However their fanatical approach to the removal of pike from a small number of lakes is difficult to reconcile. The Fisheries Boards nationally are at present developing a new Pike Policy, which is hoped, will go to the Minister later this year. The Shannon Board is actively participating in this review and is constructively seeking to develop a balance between Trout anglers and Pike anglers, but most importantly to ensure that Biodiversity of Irish Fish Life is continued into the next generation. I hope this clarifies the issues and should you have further queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely. Eamon Cusack
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