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Fisheries Management in the Shannon Region

REVIEW OF INLAND FISHERIES 2003

Shannon Regional Fisheries Board  -  OUR VISION

ShRFB Submission to Inland Fisheries Review 2003

CONTENT Click on the See Section  for links and bookmarks to specific information. You can download this file in Adobe Acrobat Reader CLICK HERE - NB: please remember this is a very large file (over 1Mb) and may take some time to download depending on the speed of your Internet connection, please be patient!

CONTENT

Background        See Section
Why State involvement in inland fisheries?     See Section
State Policy          See Section
The context within which the States Policies will be implemented  See Section
New Inland Fisheries Structure      See Section
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources  See Section
Inland Fisheries Commission   See Section
Inland Fisheries Advisory and Training Service    See Section
Regional Fisheries Authorities       See Section

 APPENDICES - Click on links below

Diagram of proposed new structure    See Section
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board – Map     See Section
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board - Who we are  See Section
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board - Board Members Brief CV  See Section
Human Resources Strategy Review 2001 – Section 2   See Section
Abbreviations List   See Section

 

  1. Background

1.1      Since their establishment in 1980 the Fisheries Boards have carried out their responsibilities in freshwater and the sea angling resource with great dedication and effectiveness, despite the lack of clear State Policies, Departmental support, sustained funding shortages, policy logjams at CFB level, insufficient resources and a failure to implement the recommendations for modernisation at Regional level.

 1.2      The weakness of the State policies in other areas of environmental management and the harmonising of such policies has also militated against the work of the Fisheries Boards. 

1.3     Despite these difficulties the Board, its management and staff have achieved a great deal. Working with the community and stakeholders in highlighting the declining fish habitat and were instrumental in protecting, rehabilitating and developing the fisheries resource, to world standards, where funds allowed. Members of the Board have a wide range of relevant experience which they make available at no cost, together with the time spent on Board business. (Appendix 4) 

1.4       The role of the Regional Boards was recognised and further strengthened under the 1999 Fisheries Act. 

1.5       Fisheries Boards are the one body with an overarching view of the water environment and are not compromised as others with similar roles are (e.g. Local Authorities, ESB, Bord na Mona, EPA, DOEHLG) whose core role is not the water environment . 

1.6       The current review of the inland fisheries sector must be seen as an opportunity to reinforce community and stakeholder involvement while enhancing the States return on the inland fisheries resource. 

1.7       This review is welcomed by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and hopes it will clearly set out the State’s role and their funding responsibilities, how the Department should support and monitor the new structure, and the deliverables and structures for inland fisheries. 

 

  1. Why State involvement in Inland Fisheries?

2.1      Ireland has an abundance of freshwater and sea angling  fisheries and the inland fisheries resource is a valuable natural asset. It is incumbent upon the State to conserve and protect our natural fisheries heritage for present and future generations. 

2.2      The resource is also of great economic importance in generating wealth directly and in the transfer of income from more affluent parts of the country to the less developed areas. However, the resource must be used sustainably to assist in the continued development of the Country’s economy. This includes its usage for recreational and tourism purposes. 

  1. State Policy

3.1      State policy for inland fisheries at present is set out in the Department of Communications Marine and Natural Resources Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 : 

                  “to conserve ( and rehabilitate )the inland fisheries resource in its

                  own right and its viability and economic and social

                  contribution at national and local level”  

3.2      The Shannon Board agrees that this shall continue to be the Core Policy position of the State with the inclusion of rehabilitation where the resource has been degraded. The Board has identified three areas into which the State’s policy can be prioritised. 

  1. “To conserve ( and rehabilitate ) the inland fisheries resource in its own    

         right” 

4.1      The State under good governance has a duty to be aware of the inland resource under its care and a duty to protect it from degradation.  Therefore it must monitor the resource and provide protection to ensure that the resource does not deteriorate further. Where deterioration has occurred it must be rehabilitated. Its policies must be knowledge based. Under the EU Water Framework Directive the State, over the next 15 years, will have added responsibilities and obligations in this area which must be met.   

4.2       The State must take sole responsibility for this element and provide the necessary funding. 

 

  1. “Social contribution at national and local level”

5.1      Recreational angling, other water recreation pursuits and sustainable commercial fishing promote health and well-being and are environmentally sound. This element delivers on the State’s policy of healthy living while portraying an image of a green and healthy environment which helps to attract industry.    

5.2      To deliver on this area the State must put structures in place to ensure that there is input at every level, on a catchment basis, by the community. 

  1. “Its viability and economic contribution at national and local level”

6.1       In this element the State has a duty to maximise the value of State assets for the good of the country.  

6.2      As the majority of fisheries in the country are owned by the State (including ESB) or operated by voluntary angling organisations, the State must seek ways in which these fisheries are developed to a high standard, enhancing their socio–economic contribution, while maintaining the tradition of access for all.  In maximising the value of the privately owned fisheries and sustainable commercial fisheries the State must provide for the promotion and incentives to develop these fisheries. 

  1. The context within which the States Policies will be implemented.

7.1      In setting out a new structure within which the State’s policies on inland fisheries will be implemented, account must be taken of the national and international trends on the protection of the environment and the requirement to be inclusive.  

7.2      Agenda 21, emanating from the Earth Summit in 1992, of which Ireland is a signatory, requires localised structures. These structures should allow for local communities to have input into the sustainable development of their areas. 

7.3      The EU also promotes regionalism as the way forward, giving meaningful input by local communities into decision making. This can be seen in the EU Water Framework Directive where the State has been given targets which it must meet through a catchment management approach.  

7.4        The EU Environment Commissioner, Margot Wallstrom stated,  

                  “Real environmental progress can be achieved with the participation of the citizens concerned. Ensuring public consultation enhances public acceptance and support for the decisions to be taken. This will enable more informed and accountable decisions to be taken and greater consensus.” 

7.5      The Convention on Biological Diversity calls for the protection of habitats, including fisheries habitats and the preservation of our biodiversity. This important issue was recognised in the 1999 Fisheries Act. The catchment management approach is seen as the appropriate mechanism by which this issue can be dealt with. 

7.6      “The one size fits all” approach does not always work on environmental issues at local level. Yes, we must have clear State national policies, but with local administration, who would be best placed to fine tune the State policies to local needs and bring forward ideas for modifications or new policies. The inclusion of the community locally will enable successful catchment planning and implementation.   

7.7      The new inland fisheries management structure outlined below takes into account modern philosophy on the need for community involvement and the changed operating environment now facing inland fisheries. The proposed structure will also support the fisheries requirements under the WFD.  

  1. New Inland Fisheries Structure

8.1        Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources 

8.1.1      To deliver on these policies an active and highly motivated unit within the Department, who are fully aware of what is required under the State policies, must be put in place. This unit would also provide support for the new National and Regional structure and monitor their effectiveness and value for money. 

8.2        Inland Fisheries Policy Commission 

8.2.1     The Inland Fisheries Policy Commission will be tasked with the formulation and review of inland fisheries policies for consideration by the Minister.  

8.2.2     The Commission will incorporate the role of the present salmon Commission.   

8.2.3     A small secretariat to service the Commission will be available and they shall meet quarterly. 

8.2.4    The Commission will consist of representatives of the Regional Fisheries structure, IFATS, DCMNR, Tourism Ireland and respective groups from all segments of the inland fisheries sectors.

8.3        Inland Fisheries Advisory and Training Service 

8.3.1     The function of the Inland Fisheries Advisory and Training Service will be to provide Technical and Training Services to the Regional Structures i.e. Human Resources, Training, Biological, Chemical, Analytical, Engineering, GIS and management information systems, etc. 

8.3.2     This service will absorb the relevant inland fisheries research and technical staff of the Central Fisheries Board and Marine Institute.  

8.3.3     This Body will be funded through the Regional structure. 

8.4        Regional Fisheries Authorities  (formally Regional Boards) 

8.4.1     The role of the new Regional Fisheries Authorities will be to implement the State’s policies on inland fisheries at local catchment level in the areas of conservation, management, improvement, development, the promotion of fisheries and provide a one stop shop for all issues relating to inland fisheries. 

8.4.2    The Regional Fisheries Authorities will be well placed to deliver their  services through the catchment management process as set out in the 1999 Fisheries Act and recommended by Price Waterhouse in 1996.  

8.4.3     With clear State inland fisheries policies set out, the Regional Fisheries Authorities will be able to undertake its work in a focused and effective manner. 

8.4.4    The further development of its staff and management in line with the HR review 2001 (see Appendix 5) and with support from the I.F.A.T.S., systems will be put in place to ensure effective corporate/ management planning and deliver on the State policies.  

8.5        To conserve the inland fisheries resource in its own right 

8.5.1     To deliver on the first element of the State’s Policy the Authority, as an independent overarching fisheries body, would be well placed to provide value for money in the assessment and monitoring of the fish resource together with the conservation of fish and their habitat. This work will also feed into Ireland’s requirements under the WFD.  

8.5.2   The new Authority must continue to monitor water quality as an independent agency – as recommended by the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report 1997. The importance of preserving the water quality in our rivers and streams through the planning process must not be overlooked.  This role is ideally suited to an independent Fisheries Authority with staff on the ground operating on 24/7 basis protecting our water environment. 

8.5.3     It was anticipated that I.F.A.T.S would supply the expert research requirements of the Authority, however the recent events whereby research personnel of the CFB are to be transferred to the Marine Institute calls this into question. It is essential that the review considers mechanisms which provide the new Authority with access to expert research facilities and personnel on a structured basis to complement the work of the Biologist and staff of the Authority. 

8.5.4     It is the duty of the State to provide funding for this element either through direct taxation or indirect taxation. 

8.6        Social contribution at national and local level 

8.6.1   The Fisheries Authority will in the second element provide expert local fisheries advice and promotion, acting as a facilitator for the betterment of fisheries for local development groups, Angling Clubs etc.  

8.6.2     This will be achieved through the setting up of a system of grant-aid, which would recognise that it is possible to undertake work locally in a more cost effective manner.  

8.6.3     The benefit of promoting angling as a leisure pursuit to the nation has not been fully recognised or addressed in previous reviews of inland fisheries.  It is an environmentally friendly sport and provides excellent educational opportunities to youthful participants, good environmental practices and the concept of sustainability in real situations. 

8.7        Its viability and economic contribution at national and local level 

8.7.1     The third element would see the development of a fully professional service by which the Regional Fisheries Authorities would provide fee based services to those in the Private sector, those developing the Fisheries resource and seek charges from those impacting on it, e.g. those who obtain licenses to dispose of waste in water bodies and planning reviews such as forestry development, etc. 

8.7.2    The Regional Fisheries Authorities would seek to develop angling tourism in association with Tourism Ireland and local tourist and development groups.  

8.7.3   The State owned assets would be sustainably developed commercially bearing in mind the traditional access structure of angling in Ireland.  

9.            Members of the Authority 

9.1        Members of the Authority would be elected to represent its functions and other members nominated by the Minister to represent interest groups, geographical spread etc. 

9.2        The Authorities would be answerable directly to the Department in the area of Corporate  Governance and Finance and directed by the Minister.

 

Glossary of Abbreviations Used 

  • CFB - Central Fisheries Board

  • DCMNR - Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

  • DOEHLG - Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government    

  • ESB - Electricity Supply Board

  • EPA - Environmental Protection Agency

  • EU - European Union

  • GIS - Geographic Information System

  • HR - Human Resources

  • IFATS - Inland Fisheries Advisory and Training Service 

  • IFPC - Inland Fisheries Policy Commission

  • RFA - Regional Fisheries Authorities

  • ShRFB - Shannon Regional Fisheries Board

  • WFD - Water Framework Directive

 


 


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