Catchment Management - Overview

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 ?
 

The Catchment Management process is a way of managing our fishery environment in a sustainable manner i.e. "meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations"

It brings the community and government together to plan and manage for the future and helps maintain a high quality environment.  Management decisions operate at a catchment level: the catchment is defined by the river draining  the land in the area.       

The process can take many forms, but decisions are typically done on a consensus basis, normally after consultation and with the help of relevant experts.

In order to carry out Catchment Management in an area, it is necessary to identify the key stakeholders (i.e. interest groups) and develop a plan of action through participation and consultation. A working document should be drawn up, outlining the objectives of the process, the issues involved and the solutions proposed, including a realistic timeframe. The gathering of background information is crucial to understanding issues within the catchment.

The success of Catchment Management depends on active participation of all the stakeholders. This build up of trust between groups is essential. The abandonment of entrenched points of view and a sprinkling of creative thinking are also useful ingredients.

Definition: 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.

Links: Use the drop down menu to access our links on Catchment Management Projects and other relevant topics

Catchment Map Mulkear Project - Click on map