Fisheries
Awareness Week 2006 - THE MOMENTS CAPTURED!
Fisheries Awareness Week 2006 now in its second year was a great
success. The week attracted lots of media attention and positive
reaction and was well attended. The fine spell of weather added to
the enjoyment of the week. There were many displays and fisheries
information was available at our Open Day venues. While
educationally rich it was also great fun with lots of outdoor
activities and competitions and the local events throughout the
catchment attracted much participation.
Let's capture some of the moments.
BIODIVERSITY DAY DROMORE WOODS ON SATURDAY MAY 26th HIGHLIGHTED THE
UNIQUENESS OF FISH IN CO CLARE
Unique fish
species were on display along with more common species during this
year’s Clare Biodiversity Day which has now become an annual
event. The exhibition by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board in
association with University College Cork and the Irish Char
Conservation Group had Arctic char as its central theme. This is
because it is believed that all of County Clare’s Arctic char
populations are now extinct. The Arctic char in the aquarium were
hatchery fish originally from Co. Kerry and were put on display to
illustrate to the crowds how beautiful these fish are but that
they are also useful water quality indicators. The Arctic char are
very sensitive to water pollution and it is in everyone's interest
to ensure that water quality is maintained at the high standard
required by this fish. There is no reason why they could not be
reintroduced into County Clare and four of the five Loughs where
they once occurred also serve as a public water supply. Their
presence would act as a freshwater canary which would alert us if
anything went wrong with water quality.
Also on display was a river
lamprey that was found attached to a brown trout caught by an angler
on Lough Derg recently. This parasitic fish is unusual as it sucks
onto other fish feeding off them. They are now relatively rare in
Ireland and it is thought that there is a landlocked population in
the Lough. More common fish species such as pike and Tench were also
on display. These fishes are not native to Clare unlike the trout,
Arctic char and Pollan.
The Shannon Regional Fisheries
Board are currently running a research programme with the Lough Derg
Angling Association to look at the native fish biodiversity in the
Lough including the elusive Irish Pollan. This project aims
determine if there are different types of trout in the Lough using
genetics backed up with photography. A scientific technique known as
stable isotope analysis will be used to compare the feeding patterns
between the different types of trout and with other fish in the
Loughs such a pike and bream. If you have any information or are
interested in taking part please contact Dr Fran Igoe at 061-300238.
You can also download a survey questionnaire form and information on
the internet from webpage
www.shannon-fishery-board.ie/guides/game/fishing-reports.htm
FISHERIES AWARENESS OPEN DAY
IN ABBEYFEALE CO LIMERICK ON SATURDAY MAY 27th
A very successful open day was held in Abbeyfeale
in conjunction with the Abbeyfeale Anglers Association . The event
was very well attended by adults and juniors alike and a great day
was had by all.
On display were a freshwater and a saltwater
aquarium which held a number of different species of fish and also a
tray of freshwater invertebrates. Throughout the day a number of
talks were given on the types of fish present and their habitats.
The saltwater aquarium was a big attraction as it was operated as a
touch pool so people were welcome to touch the fish under
supervision.
Another big attraction was the fly tying tuition
which was provided by Ned Sweeny and Michael Barry. Many people
went home with tips on how to tie flies and also a newly tied fly
which was guaranteed to catch a salmon!!
Jim Robinson was present to give expert tuition to
any budding fly fisherman and the ShRFB ran a juvenile fly casting
competition which had over twenty participants and which was won by
Richard Kelliher.
Also on display were the art entries for six schools
around the locality which were visited by fishery officers prior to
Fisheries Awareness Week. The overall winner of a digital camera
was Aran Reidy from Abbeyfeale Boys National School who composed the
following excellent poem
MY LIFE AS A SALMON
I was born in the gravel of a gentle stream
I spent my days in the light of a sunbeam
Even though I was small there was lots of us
there
we grew up together with lots of care
We looked after each other because our Mothers
died
we didn’t really know them so we never cried
We spent two years in the river swimming up and
down
I got some spots pink and brown
Then it was time to swim out to sea
my friends, brothers, sisters and me
We hit off for the salty water of the Atlantic
some swimming slow others swimming frantic
The waves in the sea were sometimes rough
it made us grow strong and tough
Something told us it wasn’t a dream
to leave the big ocean and go back to the stream
Even though it was winter and the river was high
we jumped over rocks and that’s how we got by
Back to the stream where it all began
we jumped, dived and swam
In the gravel of the stream around the bend
where it all started now it will end
We laid our eggs in that same spot
we're going to die I wish we would not
The following Monday night Abbeyfeale Anglers
Association held a very successful fishing competition for National
School Pupils on the banks of the River Feale with ten participants
taking part. A number of the members of the club were present to
impart their vast knowledge onto the kids whom took their advice on
board and as a result four of the ten participants caught trout.
The winner of the fishing competition was Dan G Harnett who received
a spinning rod from Ryan’s Fishing Tackle Shop, Abbeyfeale.
The ShRFB would like to thank the following for
making the Abbeyfeale open day and fishing competition a huge
success
Abbeyfeale Anglers
Association, Ryan’s Fishing Tackle Shop, CLG Abbeyfeale, Superbites,
Halpins Fishing Tackle Shop, Knocknagoshel Anglers Association,
Tralee and District Anglers Association,
And also a big thank you to all
those who participated in the events.
FISHERIES OPEN DAY AT CASTLE
OAKS HOTEL CASTLECONNELL SUNDAY MAY 28th
This event was a very
successful community spirited angling occasion. Great praise was
given to Mr. Paddy Roche (a 86 year old angler himself) who
provided the stretch of land that the anglers use regularly. The
club have put in place a footbridge and various other ground works
to cater for all anglers. Mr. Tom Baker (Treasurer) asserts that
there are future ambitions to make this angling stretch more
wheelchair friendly as we’ll be providing more stiles etc… as it
is, there is plenty of room on the Left hand River Bank. With the
bank height just 1-2 feet above water level the river is very
accessible. The River Deel on this stretch is wide, with good
pools and in stream features and is very popular with fly
anglers.
More than thirty kids of all ages attended this
event with their parents. The more experienced anglers warmly shared
expertise in the art of Fly Angling. Fly angling is the type of
angling that takes a long time to master. Mr. Baker (a seasoned
angler himself) says that most of the learning in this skill is by
yourself – at the bank of the river and making the mistakes and
learning from them, however a little tuition can help along the
way.
Mr. Adrain Insley (Chairman) can be contacted at
(087) 4113586 regarding fishing with the club.
The Board wishes to thank all who helped on the day.
ANGLING
DEMONSTRATION AT CAMCOR PARK BIRR & ROSCREA PARK CO TIPPERARY
The ShRFB in association with the Little Brosna
and Camcor Angling Club held angling demonstrations at the Camcor
Park in Birr on Wednesday May 31st. There was a great turn out on a
beautiful summers evening. A fly casting/spinning target competition
attracted huge interest and anglers were very keen to try their hand
at the craft of fly tying. Also featured on the evening was a fly
casting competition for the longest cast where anglers could test
their casting ability. At Roscrea Park some enthusiastic young
budding anglers participated in fly casting and fly tying on
Thursday June 1st.
The ShRFB would like to thank
the Little Brosna & Camcor Angling Club for their support and
sponsors Mr Chris Brummell, Roscrea Road, Birr, Mr John Kirwan, the
Last Cast, Connaught St, Birr, Mr Michael Madden, Townsend St, Birr,
Ray Duthie, The Old Forge, Banagher and Mrs Percival, Roscrea are
thanked for their kind support.
FISHERIES AWARENESS WEEK
EVENTS IN CO WESTMEATH
In Mullingar there were 4
events in all. Open Fisheries Awareness day held on Saturday June
3rd on Lough Owel was very successful with the local
angling club providing angling tuition and advice to visitors. It
was very well attended with over 100 people visiting the venue.
Visitors found the displays very informative and interesting.
There was lots of participation in the events on the day which
were good fun and enjoyed by all.
On Thursday June 1st in
association with Derravaragh Angling Club, the Shrfb electro fished
a stream on the Multifarnham shore of Lough Derravaragh as part of a
fisheries demonstration exercise. 10 0+ trout, stickleback and
lamprey eel were located and visitors were amazed to see so many
fish in such a small section of stream. Visitors also took great
interest in the aquarium display.
Once again the aquarium display
was very popular at the Lough Ennell venue on June 4th. It was a
good opportunity for the Board to get feedback from the public.
Anglers expressed much concern about the threat of pollution on
Ennell and power craft was another issue of concern expressed by
many of the 30+ strong attendees.
FISHERIES AWARENESS WEEK
EVENTS IN CO GALWAY AND ROSCOMMON
Featured at our Fisheries Open
Day on June 5th on the Boyle Canal was the ShRFB
Fisheries Patrol rib, sea fish aquarium and trout and coarse fish
aquarium, children’s fishing. The refreshments were provided by
Boyle and District anglers and ShRFB. Prizes were sponsored by ShRFB,
Boyle and District Anglers and Terry Mann, Mohill - many thanks to
all who supported us.
The junior fishing competition
was fished at the R. Eslin in Mohill. The event was organised by
Mohill and District Anglers. There were 19 competitors who caught
both trout and coarse fish.
West Roscommon provided two
venues. Take a friend fishing event at Lake O'Flynn, Ballinlough on
Tuesday May 30th attracted one hundred visitors from 1
year to eighty years old. Board staff provided short fishing/boating
trips and nearly all visitors took part, with three participants
catching their first ever fish. Huge interest was also shown at the
fish aquarium and invertebrate display unit, with dozens of queries
to Board staff as to the Life Cycles of the aquatic life. Many
requests were also made expressing that such events should take
place in the future. Appreciation and thanks was expressed by many
people for the wonderful afternoon provided by the Board.
A Competition was held at
Donamon "access for all" facility at Donamon on the River Suck on
Saturday May 27th. Visitors from the Arch Club attended and had
their first days fishing at this beautiful location. Two of the
visitors caught their first fish. Bill Cassidy, Angling School
gave tuition to the visitors. Great excitement and delight was
shown by this group.
OVER 6,000 ENTRIES RECEIVED FOR THE WATER
POLLUTION AWARENESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL APPRECIATION POSTER
COMPETITION
The Shannon Regional
Fisheries Board has been running a water pollution awareness and
environmental appreciation education programme among 30 national
schools within the Lough Sheelin catchment and surrounding counties.
This programme was divided into two phases and
targeted all children form 4 to 14 years. The first phase involved
school talks which covered the importance, value and protection of
water, plants, insects, fish, wildlife, bog lands and water safety,
some field trips were also included.
The second phase of this programme involved a
competition where the children were asked to create a poster which
illustrated what water meant to them. There was a phenomenal
response to this with over 6000 entries being submitted.
The Fisheries Board hosted an award
ceremony in Crover House Hotel, which attracted large numbers of
children, parents, teachers, sponsors, anglers and local people.
All of the artwork, which covered seven walls of the hotel, was on
display, the result of which could only be described as “stunning”.
Fisheries environmental officer, Brenda Montgomery,
who engineered the project, commented that none of us could live
without clean water. It made a lot of sense to run a programme like
this to teach the children, who are the future caretakers of our
waterways, to protect and appreciate what is an invaluable and
priceless resource.
COMPETITION WINNERS
Well
done to all participants who took part in the various field events
and to those who won prizes in the local competitions.
To add a bit of interest and excitement the Board
ran a number of online competitions. The adult quiz winner was Frank
Dempsey from Ballykeeran Athlone. He won a days salmon fishing for
two on Castleconnell’s prestigious Salmon fishery with evening meal
for two in the Castle Oaks Hotel. He availed of his prize on Tuesday
July 11th and fished beat 5 and 6 with his son Sean. The
ShRFB was delighted to learn that both Frank and Sean had a grilse
each on fly soon after starting on beat 6, well done to both.
Photo: Frank Dempsey, Ballykeeran Athlone winner of our
Fisheries Awareness Week Online Adult Quiz. Gill tag was
placed on the fish immediately following the photograph.
Well done to our junior quiz winner
Eoin Sheehan, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick who won a
digital camera and fishing rod.
YOUR FEEDBACK
We look forward to running the
event again in 2007 and invite your feedback and comment. We hope to
have new and more exciting events for next year. If you have ideas
and would like to share them with us on making next year an even
more memorable occasion, we would like to hear from you. You can
complete our feedback form by logging and visiting webpage
http://www.shannon-fishery-board.ie/FAW/faw06/feedback.htm or
you can request a questionnaire form by telephoning 061 300238 or
writing to Mr Eamon Cusack, CEO, Shannon Regional Fisheries Board,
Ashbourne Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick Email:
info@shrfb.com
OUR THANKS
The Board wishes to publicly acknowledge and thank
all who supported us over the week, especially the angling clubs and
all the sponsors who generously provided prizes.
