Minister O Dowd launches Ireland’s first purpose-built angling disinfection facility.
IFI and Anglers on the front line in battle against Harmful Invasive Species and Pathogens
Minister Fergus O Dowd launched Ireland’s first purpose-built disinfection station at Ballyhoe Lake, Co. Cavan last night. The facility was was developed by IFI, in cooperation with Interreg IVA (CIRB), IADA and the local Meathhill Angling Club.
The station will facilitate the disinfection of angling equipment on entry to the lake the helping to ensure that unwanted alien invasive species and harmful fish pathogens can be kept out of our natural fisheries. This development will also provide a template for further such facilities on fishery watercourses throughout the country.
The disinfection station is located at the entrance to Ballyhoe Lake, a prime Irish specimen tench fishery. The entrance gate and the disinfection station are secured with combination locks, the numbers for which are available through nominated members of the Meathhill Angling Club. Contact numbers for these members are provided on the tank. Members of the club will replace the disinfectant and manage the facility locally, as necessary.
Once opened, the tank contains a disinfection container for
boots,
keep nets,
landing nets and
stink bags.
Disposable gloves are provided for angler use while disinfecting.
A brush is available to scrub boots, and a spray bottle for boats coming onto the lake.
Signage adjacent to the tank and underneath the lid of the tank provides step-by-step instructions for the angler. Once the gear has been disinfected, the anglers apply a tag to his/her net to show that the process has been completed. Different colour tags will be utilised at the discretion of the operators.
Congratulating Meathhill Angling Club and IADA , Minister O Dowd commented ‘ angling clubs and federations the length and breadth of Ireland are key to the protection of our angling resources. By providing facilities such as this, we are adding to the goodwill and community commitment of Meathhill Angling Club to protect their fishery, while also ensuring access to it. This access helps to safeguard the sustainability of our valuable resource which will continue to bring much needed revenue to the local community through responsible angling activity. I can’t emphasise enough the role anglers and clubs have in the front line in the fight against invasive species which supplements the great work in the area carried out by IFI with the support of representative bodies such as IADA.’
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Media enquiries: Suzanne Campion ,Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland,
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971; Email suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie
