Kyne welcomes Inland Fisheries Ireland Stock Management Plan for National Designated Trout Waters for 2018
Kyne welcomes Inland Fisheries Ireland Stock Management Plan for National Designated Trout Waters for 2018
Monday, 19th February, 2018: Sean Kyne TD, Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries sector, today welcomed Inland Fisheries Ireland’s 2018 Stock Management Plan for designated trout lakes. For many years IFI has engaged in management of pike populations in these lakes.
Stock Management is undertaken for the conservation of wild brown trout in waters which are managed by IFI as wild brown trout fisheries. Such waters are identified in IFI’s pike and trout management policies. The 2018 plan again includes operations on Loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin.
Minister Kyne said: “Management of predator species is an important element of ensuring the preservation of salmonid species in these seven lakes which have long been recognised by IFI as prime wild brown trout fisheries. I want to commend IFI and its Board on its plan for 2018, set out with the inputs of local managers, which aims for the removal of almost 8,370 pike from the lakes, a significant increase on the objective of some 6,840 removals set for 2017.
“A separate management plan was put in place in January for the Owenriff system following the introduction of pike to those waters, and IFI’s rehabilitation plan for that system, based on work they have been doing since summer last year, will be announced shortly,” he added.
Photo (l to r): IFI CEO, Dr Ciaran Byrne, with Minister Sean Kyne at Inland Fisheries Ireland's Citywest offices
Details of the 2018 Stock Management Plan can be viewed at National Pike Management Plan 2018 and work on stock management operations is expected to commence immediately. Routine analysis of stomach contents will be undertaken for research purposes.
Stock management operations are carried out in accordance with IFI’s pike and trout management policies under strict standard operating procedures. Policies and procedures can be viewed at http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/FAQ/faq.html.
S59 Authorisations are required by clubs and organisations wishing to remove pike via angling competitions on managed trout fisheries.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is currently reviewing its policy on the management of pike in designated wild brown trout fisheries and the 2018 Plan is based on a continuation of operations in line with existing policies.
Minister Kyne also emphasised that the management of the large limestone wild brown trout lakes has been set out in policy and that stock management is prioritised in line with the special designation of these lakes.
“I have directed my Department, working in tandem with IFI, to consider how this designation can be given statutory status as a matter of priority,” he concluded.
ENDS
For media information:
Paul O’Mahony
Communications Manager
E: paul.omahony@fisheriesireland.ie
T: 353 (0) 1 8842675
Notes to Editors:
About Minister Kyne
Minister Kyne is the Minister of State at the Department of Communications Climate Action and Environment with policy responsibility for the Inland Fisheries Sector.
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.
