Catchment Management

The Shannon Region's rivers, lakes and estuaries are wonderful natural resources that are complex and unique systems. This section details the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board's strategies aimed at ensuring the sustainability of our valuable fisheries resource over the coming years.

What is Catchment Management ?
 

There are a number of definitions offered to best describe the concept of CM. The Central Fisheries Board describe Catchment Management in their report issued in 1997 'Achieving Sustainable Growth' as a process where people come together out of self interest to optimise the benefits that can be derived for their local community. It involves the assessment by the people, in a geographically distinct river catchment, of their needs, appraisal of the assets in that catchment and the application of an action plan to best meet their identified needs in a harmonious manner. The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources designated six river pilot catchment areas to assess practically how CM would work in Ireland and to try and devise a definitive process for Catchment Management in the future.

The Environment has a dramatic effect on the way we live and the way we live has a major impact on the Environment. Bearing this in mind we all must be mindful and take responsibility for ensuring a clean and healthy environment. This can really only be achieved by creating public awareness of Environmental issues and emphasizing how we can all play an active role in ensuring Environmental Protection.

CM is principally a process involving Government Agencies, Voluntary Groups, Local Communities and other stakeholders who are willing to work together towards a common goal. That goal is to create a better and healthy catchment in a sustainable, balanced and environmentally sensitive manner for the betterment and harmony of local communities. The task involves a process of consensus building and local partnership between all interest groups. The problems that can practically exist may be complex, the solutions often difficult and requires a very sensitive and understanding approach to handling peoples concerns. CM is about engaging all stakeholders to voice their worries, to set up organisational structures to deal with the issues and agree a management strategy best suited to Total and Integrated Catchment Management. It's about Community and Social development. It's about educating local communities and schools about the environment through a Public Awareness Campaign. It's about setting up Training Programmes for involved participants, to train them in Environmental and Resource Management. After all the key objective to CM is that local communities determine their own future and the future of following generations in their Catchment. How all these elements can be integrated successfully requires leadership, vision, co-operation and a huge commitment by a lot of people.. This has been a task for the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards, who will hopefully achieve their objectives through the good will and co-operation of all concerned.

NB: Please note the Links on the left hand menu are currently unavailable as this section of the  new website here is under construction. For other content on the organisation and the Board's functions and activities etc, please logon to the old Website at www.shannon-fishery-board.ie/organisation.htm and follow the links there - thank you