FISHERY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE

FISHERY PROTECTION & CONSERVATION

AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT

ANGLING PROMOTION

Water Quality and Fish Habitat Preservation

Despite many successes in all areas of the ShRFB activities, the main focus during 1999 was in the area of water quality and fish habitat preservation. The growing awareness of the community and the judiciary to fishery environmental issues is greatly welcomed. However, the continuing decline of our water quality and fish habitat is alarming. While resources are now being made available to ascertain what the problems are, they are insufficient to actively prevent and detect polluters.

The Publication of the 1999 Lough Derg/Lough Ree Catchment Monitoring and Management System Report gives further evidence of deteriorating water quality. It also sets out that measures are required to be undertaken by Local Authorities to deal with the many issues affecting water quality. The Board has sought to encourage those with the authority to bring about change in this area.

In November 1999 the Board hosted a major water quality conference Entitled ' Shannon in Crisis' The conference opened by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Noel Dempsey TD, was well supported. Speakers from home and abroad outlined the serious situation we face and suggested some answers.

The decision in December, by the Minister for the Environment to phase out phosphate based detergents was welcomed by the Board which had campaigned long on this issue. 

In addition to the 16 prosecutions in the water quality area, the Board continued its Education and Awareness Programme, to the Agricultural sector as well as to schools and to the general public with good support. 

Conservation of Fish Stocks

The conservation of Fish stocks continued to receive public support. Despite encouraging  signs in 1999 our salmon stocks remained vulnerable and in line with the National trend, catches continue to decline. The provision of new surveillance equipment and additional staff training assisted in achieving 15 prosecutions and seizing of over 3,500 yards of illegal salmon net. While continuing with our sea, estuarine and river patrols, staff also undertook Education and Awareness Programmes in schools and at other suitable venues. The Board, working closely with the ESB, continues to preserve and protect this valuable resource. 

Great focus by our mobile protection unit on the conservation of coarse fish, which is now under growing pressure from increased angling and water quality problems, produced positive results.    

Fisheries Enhancement

The continuing investment of EU Structural Funds in the angling sector proved highly significant. The work undertaken by staff on stream rehabilitatrion projects on the Wild Brown Trout Fisheries of Lough Ennell and Lough Sheelin was well received by experts from home and abroad. 

The Shannon Region is noted for its excellent coarse angling and many thousands of foreign tourists visit our area annually. To enable this sector to continue to prosper and grow, the Board undertook the development of a number of coarse fisheries through the provision of access roads, car parks, and the creation of angling spaces with a spend of over £265,000. The promotion of these new facilities is assisted through our web site, now attracting (2000 figures)  to nearly 23,000 page views a month, and the expertise of Shannon Development and Bord Failte. 

.Modernisation of Service

The ability of the Board to provide a modernised service was enhanced by a continued introduction of new management systems and infrastructure. This included new Accounts Systems and the upgrading and creation of new stores and information centres at strategic points in the region, together with increased flexibility from the staff. 

Catchment Management Process

The development of a new Catchment Management process during 1999 was further boosted by the appointment of a new Catchment Management Project Officer to our pilot project on the Mulcair River. This coincided with the establishment of a group representing all the stakeholders, with the aim of bringing forward a sustainable development plan for the catchment.

Strategic Development Plan 1998 - 2000

The ShRFB key priorities for the five year plan have had considerable success. The introduction of new technology has seen improvements in the accounting section and has led to the development of the very successful Board web site. Promotion of angling and the environment  benefited from web site publication, information stores and the Education and Awareness Programme. Staff training programmes continue to be organised as laid out in the plans. The commitment to increase focus on coarse fish species has seen the Board invest over £250,000 on coarse fishery development and the extension of protection services to coarse fish concerns