New Era for Fisheries Management at Launch of Bass, Pike and Trout Policies

PRESS RELEASE Friday, 22nd August 2014

National policies for the management of trout, pike and bass, were today (22.08.14) launched by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state agency responsible for the protection, conservation, management and promotion of Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources.

Speaking at the launch, IFI chairman, Mr Brendan O’Mahony, commented, “These policies are the first national species policies to be issued from IFI and in this regard represent a new era for fisheries management in Ireland. The policies will provide for the better conservation and management of bass, pike and trout in Ireland and will help ensure sustainability of stocks into the future. In addition, they will allow for improved angling, economic impacts and help to sustain and improve the many jobs that are supported by recreational angling in Ireland.”

John Chambers (IFPAC), Eamon Moore (TAFI), Prof Martin O'Grady and Martin Butler, Members of the Brown trout Policy Group, flank Brendan O'Mahony, Chairman, and Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO, IFI

Members of the Bass Policy Group Micheal Hennessey, John Quinlan and Shane O'Reilly with Brendan O'Mahony and Dr Ciarn Byrne

Members of the Pike Policy Group New Era for Fisheries Management at Launch of Bass, Pike and Trout Policies

John Chambers (IFPAC), Dr Joe Caffrey, Liam Gavin and John Crudden (IFPAC), members of the Pike Policy Group, with Brendan O'Mahony and Dr Ciaran Byrne

The three policy documents have been formulated, through a rigorous consultation process, by groups comprising: fisheries scientists; angling federations; and industry representatives.

The recommendations will now be brought forward and put into practice by IFI. Where required IFI will seek legislative changes to underpin and support the policies, which will be reviewed after a period of three years.

The main recommendations put forward include:

For Bass: a reduction in the daily angling bag limit from two to one fish in any 24 hour period; an increase in the minimum landing size; and a review of the closed season.
For Pike: in designated, managed wild brown trout fisheries, the current bye-law is recommended to be amended to prohibit the killing of any pike greater than or equal to 85 cm in length; all larger rod-caught pike should be returned to the water alive; in all other waters of the State an angler will be permitted to take and kill one pike of less than or equal to 50 cm in length (as per the existing bye-law); additionally, the policy calls for further research into pike movement and transfer programmes.
For Trout: a national minimum size limit; national bag limits; designation of a number of lakes and rivers sections as wild brown trout fisheries; in addition to other measures.

Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland added, “I would like to thank all who assisted with the formulation of these policies, and I would also like to acknowledge the passion and understanding that all of the groups have for their species of interest: the environment; habitat; and pressures that they face. The challenge now is to implement these policies through the work of IFI, angling practices, and where necessary, with legislative support. I look forward to progressing these policies with the same collaborative approach as used in their formulation.”

For more information and to access the policy documents, visit

New Era for Fisheries Management at Launch of Bass, Pike and Trout Policies

Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development and Brendan O'Mahony, Chariperson, Inland Fisheries Ireland

Board Members at the Launch of the new policies

Marcus McMahon, Fintan Gorman, John Peter Nally, Brendan O'Mahony, Chariman, Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO, Lal Faherty and Martin McEnroe, members of the Board, at the launch

... ENDS...

Suzanne Campion,
Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Notes to Editor

Photographer Shane O’Neill, Fennell Photography, has been commissioned to cover this event and will be issuing photos to photodesks this afternoon.

About Inland Fisheries Ireland:

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 aims to promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.