FISHERY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE

FISHERY PROTECTION & CONSERVATION

AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT

ANGLING PROMOTION

1999 ANNUAL REPORT

SHANNON BOARD WINS AWARD

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The Board aims to:

• conserve and protect fish stocks, water quality and the fishery environment.

• develop and enhance fish stocks

• develop and support the angling product

• assist through angling development, the creation of jobs and bring economic benefit to local communities.

New Five Year Plan for Inland Fisheries

The Central Fisheries Board on 1 December 1997 launched a Strategic Development Plan for Inland Fisheries 1998 - 2002 "Achieving Sustainable Growth". The plan was prepared in conjunction with the Regional Fisheries Board and was launched by the Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources, Dr Michael Woods, TD. The purpose of the report is to set out goals and targets for the development of the fisheries resource over the next five years. The plan also identifies the resources and organisational changes that are necessary to achieve its ambitious goals. It is hoped that the content of the plan will inform the thinking of policy makers in determining the future direction for inland fisheries.

This Board's contribution to the plan sets as its objectives: to preserve and protect the ecology of the fishery environment, to develop and enhance the inland fishery resource in a sustainable manner, and to develop and promote tourism angling, commercial fishing and job creation, derived from the resource, for the benefit of local communities.

Some key Shannon Region priorities 1998 - 2002 are to:

• provide an adequately resourced water quality monitoring and enforcement unit, including the provision of modern laboratory facilities.
• upgrade staff training and education in association with the Central Board.
• introduce new technology to assist the service function more effectively in all areas of its operations
• put in place a properly funded monitoring and research programme on various fish species, paying particular attention to coarse fish.
• develop and promote the angling product in a balanced and economically sensitive manner.
• encourage young people and non anglers to participate in the sport.
• develop and conserve the commercial and angling fisheries of the Region, in co-operation with the fishery owners and local communities.
• work with other state bodies in developing operational protocols to maximise the effectiveness of working relationships.
• promote a safety culture amongst the staff and the angling communities.