Canney grants €1 million in funding for fisheries conservation and angling initiatives

Canney grants €1 million in funding for fisheries conservation and angling initiatives

Wednesday, 27th of November 2019: Sean Canney TD, Minister with responsibility for inland fisheries, has today announced the recipients of €1 million in funding from Inland Fisheries Ireland. The grants will support fisheries conservation, protection and education initiatives and give the public greater access to fishing sites around the country.

The funding has been awarded to 25 projects in 16 counties, alongside two nationwide initiatives, and is made available by Inland Fisheries Ireland under its National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD). Since 2016, the NSAD has supported 128 projects across the country with over two-thirds (69%) of projects completed to date with the remaining projects in progress.

This latest funding is granted through the Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund (€894,850), NSAD Capital Grants Fund 2019 (€128,300) and the Midlands Fisheries Fund (€15,000). The funding call was oversubscribed with applications from community groups, angling clubs and local authorities all looking to improve and protect their local fisheries resource.

Announcing the fund recipients, Sean Canney TD said: “As Minister with responsibility for inland fisheries, I am delighted to make over €1 million available to projects across the country which will help us conserve, protect and develop a sustainable fisheries resource for all. The range of projects which we are supporting gives an insight into the diverse requirements of the fisheries resource as the demand for funding for fisheries projects continues across the country.

“Some of the projects receiving funding will focus on recovering valuable salmon and sea trout stocks while others will look to build infrastructure which will help those of all abilities access fishing. However, all projects have a commonality in that they will help deliver a sustainable inland fisheries and sea angling resource and in turn, help us realise the economic and social benefits which the fisheries resource offers to communities nationwide.”

Projects to receive funding include:

A research project to examine the potential decline in sea trout numbers in the Currane catchment in Kerry (€187,089).
Conservation works to help improve habitat for salmon on the Oily River, Co. Donegal (€25,176).
Support for the wheelchair accessible Lough Ree Angling Hub in Roscommon which will ensure fishing is accessible to people of all abilities (€50,000).
Support for the third phase of the River Easkey Angling Development Project in Sligo for the provision of stiles and footbridges at 32 fishing locations along the River Easkey (€33,300).
Construction of an approved fish pass to extend salmon migration on the Marty River, Co. Meath (€100,000).

(More detailed information is available in the Notes to Editor Section)

Oily River, Co. Donegal. This project will assess potential works to repair an eroding river bank which will help improve habitat for salmon.

Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “We are already partnering with over a hundred clubs and associations in the delivery of fisheries projects and today’s announcement sees a further investment in the future health of our fisheries resource. Those who were successful in securing funding include fishing clubs, community groups, sports clubs, tourism providers and local authorities. It was great to see recognition of the importance and potential of the resource from so many groups in our society and we look forward to working with them in delivering these projects for their communities.”

For further information and a full list of projects receiving funding, please visit www.fisheriesireland.ie/funding .

ENDS

For Media Information:

Órla Sheils / Sadhbh O’Neill Communications Inland Fisheries Ireland E: orla.sheils@fisheriesireland.ie / Sadhbh.oneill@fisheriesireland.ie T: 01 884 2673 / 01 884 2632


Notes to the Editor



Funding Recipients 2019

Midlands Fisheries Fund

Project

Location

Description

River Brosna Conservation Works - Mullingar Shamrocks GAA Club

€15,000

Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

This project will lead to an improvement in the bio-diversity in the river channel and the land bordering the river.

NSAD Capital Grants Fund 2019

Project	Location	Description
Killaloe Courthouse Feasibility Study – Tulla District & Coarse Angling Association €10,000	Killaloe, Co. Clare	Study to assess the potential development of Killaloe Courthouse into a centre of excellence for angling on the Derg and Care.
Abbotstown Lake Fishery Development Plan – Inland Fisheries Ireland €10,000	Abbotstown Lake, Sport Ireland HQ , Dublin 15	Development works to develop a fishery at the site, including stocking of the lake.
River Easkey Angling Association Development Project Phase Three – River Easkey Angling Club €33,300	River Easkey, Co. Sligo	Provision of stiles and footbridges at 32 locations along the River Easkey to give greater accessibly to fishing sites. This is the third phase of this project with earlier phases also supported by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Access For All Wheelchair Accessible Angling Centre – Lough Ree Angling Club €50,000	Lough Ree, Co. Roscommon	Re-fitting an existing building to create a wheelchair accessible angling hub. A wheelchair accessible boat will also be provided by the angling club.
Development of Slipway and Parking – Arvagh Angling Holidays €20,000	Lower Lake / Hollybank Lake, Arvagh, Co. Cavan	Construction of a slipway and parking area to give improved access to the lake for boat angling.
Arklow Riverwalk Habitat Restoration – Arklow Tidy Towns €5,000	Arklow, Co. Wicklow	Improvement works at the riverside amenity in the town which will support bio-diversity in the river and along the river bank as well as improve access to angling.

Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund

Currane STAMP Project – Inland Fisheries Ireland €187,089	Currane Catchment, Co. Kerry	Study to identify factors contributing to the decline in sea trout and identify measures which could revert this decline at this important angling destination.
Salmon Conservation Limit Attainment 2019 to 2022 – Inland Fisheries Ireland €333,530	Nationwide	This project will assess salmon stocks nationwide and will help identify which rivers have critically low numbers of salmon. The results of this research will inform the opening of rivers to salmon fishing.
#CPRSavesFish Badges – Inland Fisheries Ireland €1,350	Nationwide	Make promotional #CPRSavesFish badges available to anglers who are practising catch and release salmon.
CCTV equipment – Inland Fisheries Ireland €8,683	River Slaney, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford	CCTV Equipment for a known salmon poaching hotspot in Enniscorthy town to support protection efforts.
Behal’s Weir Stablisation Project – Inland Fisheries Ireland €30,000	Behal’s Weir, Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny	Following a recent flood which resulted in a portion of the weir washing away, this project will remove collapsed weir, stabilise the river bank and ensure improved passage of fish.
Brett’s Weir Fish Pass Proposal – Inland Fisheries Ireland €55,000	Brett’s Weir, Co. Kilkenny	Brett’s Weir currently acts as a partial barrier to the passage of Salmon in the River Nore. This project will design a shovel ready project for a fish pass to improve the passage of salmon up the river.
Proposed Fergus Rehabilitation Plan – Ennis and District Anglers Association €5,000	River Fergus System, Co. Clare	Survey of the Fergus System and preparation of a rehabilitation plan for it which will improve the habitat for salmon.
River Dargle Fisheries Protection Project – Inland Fisheries Ireland €7,870	River Dargle, Bray, Co. Wicklow	Provision of CCTV equipment to monitor a known salmon poaching hotspot on the River Dargle in Bray.
Dublin Smart City Fish Sensors Project – Inland Fisheries Ireland €2,000	Dublin City	A citizen science project which aims to use cameras, sensors and the internet to monitor fish movement as well as promote salmon conservation. This project will be part funded by Dublin City Council.
River Boyne Catchment Management Programme – Inland Fisheries Ireland €100,000	Martry Weir, Co. Meath	Construction of a fish pass at Martry Mill to facilitate migrating salmon on their journey.
River Fane Enhancement – Dundalk Salmon Anglers €7,584	River Fane, Dundalk, Co. Louth	Installation of fencing along 500 metres of river bank to prevent livestock entering the river and causing damage. This will improve the river habitat and salmon spawning beds. Includes three stiles to access the river.
Fish Counter Upgrade & Housing – Inland Fisheries Ireland €40,000	River Liffey at Islandbridge, Dublin	Upgrade to the fish counter facilities at Islandbridge which will support the management of salmon stocks.
Bakery Weir Fish Passage Improvement Works – Inland Fisheries Ireland €56,000	Bakery Weir, Cahir, Co. Tipperary	The Bakery Weir acts as a partial barrier to the passage of salmon in the River Suir. This project will carry out a study to help prepare for a fish pass at the site.
Oily River Improvement Project – Charles Tindal €25,176	Oily River, Co. Donegal	This project will assess potential works to repair an eroding river bank which will help improve habitat for salmon.
Trawbreaga Bay – Cruinniú na n-Aibhneacha – Local Assessment of Small Coastal Streams Inishowen Rivers Trust €5,000	Trawbreaga, Co. Donegal	This project will assess two coastal streams entering the bay and provide recommendations for measures to improve habitat and water quality for salmon and sea trout.
Tarsaughan River Salmon Conservation Project – Shean Lodge Fishery €22,479	Tarsaughan River, Co. Mayo	This river is currently eroding and has become shallow and not ideal as a salmon habitat. This project will assess potential works to repair the eroding river bank to improve the habitat.
Surveillance CCTV System for Scarleigh Weir – Inland Fisheries Ireland €6,089	Scarleigh Weir, Co. Kerry	Provision of CCTV equipment to monitor illegal poaching activity at Scartleigh Weir.
Seamus the Salmon – Inland Fisheries Ireland €1,000	Custom house Quay, Cork & Southwest	Creation of ‘Seamus the Salmon’ which will be made from stainless steel and filled with plastic gathered from beach clean-ups. Seamus will promote conservation and environmental protection and will be housed at the Custom House Quay in Cork and travel along the South-West of the country for promotional purposes.

About Inland Fisheries Ireland
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. Inland Fisheries Ireland promotes supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland also develops policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling and advises the Minister on same.