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PRESS
STATEMENTS 2004
Fish Kill
on the Crover River, Sheelin Catchment
DATED
16th
August 2004
Contact:
Eamon Cusack, Chief Executive Officer
Phone:
061 300238 & Mob: 87-2425 017
Over the weekend, hundreds of
Brown Trout and Gudgeon were killed on a 3 kilometer section of the
Crover River in the Sheelin Catchment, Co. Cavan. Staff from the
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board worked throughout the weekend to
locate the source of the effluent and deal with the aftermath of the
fish kill.
The
fish were killed following silage effluent entering the river. Staff
have confirmed the source and have taken samples for analysis.
The Board is
seriously concerned at this incident, which occurred at a time of
low water levels and when once again the waters of Lough Sheelin
have turned green with algae. Commenting on the event the Chairman,
Mr Michael Callaghan, stated “This is a further devastating blow to
the Lake, a lake which continues to be under severe pressure from
over enrichment of the catchment.”
Lough
Sheelin, a prime wild Brown Trout fishery, continues to be under
severe pressure from pollution. The Board
will continue to seek to address the pollution issues of Lough
Sheelin which, despite numerous Reports and many years of agitation
by the Fisheries Board and local anglers, have not been addressed.
The Crover River is
a nursery stream of Lough Sheelin, on which stream enhancement work had
been undertaken by the Board and local anglers, thereby providing
more juvenile fish for Lough Sheelin. This work has now been
seriously damaged.
The
Board urges the farming community to redouble their efforts to
eliminate such incidents and to inspect all their facilities to
ensure that they are complying to the highest standards,
particularly at this time of year with low water conditions.
END
Fish Stock Assessment of
the River Shannon between Drumsna and Rooskey
DATED
17th
May 2004
Contact:
Eamon Cusack, Chief Executive Officer
Phone:
061 300238 & Mob: 87-2425 017
Following reports of declining fish stocks in the Drumsna and Roosky
section of the River Shannon the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
commissioned the Central Fisheries Board to undertake an assessment
of fish stocks in the area.
The
Report of that assessment, which is released today, reveals a large
and healthy stock of coarse fish throughout the section surveyed.
The study also states “There was no evidence that the community
structure, the population structure, the relative abundance on the
health status of the fishery had been adversely impacted by any
pollution input.”
The
Shannon Board’s Chairman Michael Callaghan stated “that the
Board is encouraged by the findings, which he hopes will lead to
more informed discussion on the issue. He further stated that the
Board is committed to improving angling in the area and attracting
back the overseas anglers.”
The
Board while encouraged by the Report, notes that further work on a
number of issues is still required. The Report suggests that the
well documented movement of coarse fish from one location to another
may also be a factor in reduced angler catches. Identification of
new areas where the coarse fish have taken up residence will
commence this year, so that local and tourist anglers can be
informed and fishery development focused.
A
study of fish stocks in the Carrick on Shannon area will be
undertaken later this year, while fish health checks will be carried
out in the Rooskey
area. The Board also notes the declining numbers of large Pike in
the area and will work with the Department of Communications, Marine
and Natural Resources to improve conservation measures particularly
in the Upper Shannon.
END
NB: Please note that you can
download this report in pdf (Adobe Acrobat Reader) However this is a
very large file of over 15MB and will take quite a period of time
to download to your computer depending on the speed of your Internet
connection. If you are unprepared to wait you can request a copy by
snail mail by Emailing
info@shannon-fishery-board.ie and place the text DRUMSNA REPORT
REQUEST in the subject line and don't forget to include your postal
address - thank you.
DOWNLOAD HERE
IN PDF
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