Public consultation: Fermoy Weir - Angling Limitiations

No. 4 or Lismore Fisheries District, River Blackwater, (Fermoy Weir) Bye Law - Angling limitations

Please note - submissions made in respect of this public consultation along with the outcome of the public consultation can be viewed at the links below.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is seeking submissions from interested parties in respect of a proposed new temporary Bye-law which would:

1. prohibit being in possession of any mounted fishing rod with line attached and prohibit taking, catching or attempting to catch any fish by any means whatsoever in those waters of the River Blackwater, Co Cork, which are between the downstream face of the weir known as Fermoy weir, in the townland of Carrignagroghera and the townland of Fermoy, both in the barony of Condons and Clangibbon, in the County of Cork, and a line, drawn across the river at right angles to the Mill Race wall, from a point on the South bank which is 10 meters downstream from the point at which the weir meets the Mill Race wall, to a point on the North bank.
2. prohibit any fishing on or from the weir structure itself.

Approximate area which will be covered by the new Bye-law

All submissions must be received in writing. Please be aware that all submissions received by Inland Fisheries Ireland will be published on its website www.fisheriesireland.ie. In addition Inland Fisheries Ireland is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and therefore has to consider any request made to it under that Act.

If you consider that any part of your submission would be subject to any of the statutory exclusions under that Act please so indicate in your submission, specifying under which exemption you believe the content should be excluded.

Inland Fisheries Ireland will make every effort to comply fully with the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003 and the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC

Submissions should be marked ‘Public consultation – River Blackwater (Fermoy Weir)’ and be submitted by post to:

Inland Fisheries Ireland,

Sunnyside House,

Macroom,

Co. Cork,

P12 X602

or by email to: Fermoybyelaw@fisheriesireland.ie

The Public Consultation period will run for 28 days and the closing date for receipt of submissions is 5pm on Thursday 19th April 2018.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this Bye-Law do?

This new Bye-law will prohibit all angling in the area between the downstream face of the weir and a line, drawn across the river at right angles to the Mill Race wall, from a point on the South bank which is 10 meters downstream from the point at which the weir meets the Mill Race wall, to a point on the North bank.

It will also prohibit any type of angling from on top of the weir itself.

Why is this Bye-Law necessary?

In recent years the structures of both Fermoy weir and its fish pass have deteriorated considerably, and neither is operating in the manner intended with regard to fish passage. The ability of migrating salmon to pass over the weir is severely limited and at times of normal or low river water levels large numbers of migrating salmon accumulate in pools close to the downstream face of the weir.

IFI staff are worried about the level of stress which is imposed on these fish by the high levels of angling activity taking place in this confined area. This change would be a practical measure to greatly decrease the stress on migrating salmon gathered at the weir wall and unable to make passage of the weir, while a permanent solution is awaited.

Why doesn’t Inland Fisheries Ireland just fix the weir?

Statuary responsibility for the weir rests with its owners, Cork County Council (Fermoy Municipal District).

Cork County Council is at present seeking to secure funding to repair the weir structure and construct a new fish bypass channel on the river.

Who is affected by this Bye-Law?

This Bye-law will affect any anglers who normally fish on Fermoy weir or in the waters immediately downstream of the weir.

What species of fish are protected by this Bye-Law?

While the main focus of this Bye-law is to protect migrating salmon, this Bye-law will also protect all fish species present in the waters immediately downstream of Fermoy weir.

What about the anglers that fish below the weir?

This new Bye-law will only affect angling in the area between the downstream face of the weir and a line, drawn across the river at right angles to the Mill Race wall, from a point on the South bank which is 10 meters downstream from the point at which the weir meets the Mill Race wall, to a point on the North bank.

The rights of fishery owners or their nominees to angle and take fish by rod and line in the rest of the waters below the weir would still be maintained.

Will it be a permanent Bye-Law?

This bye-law would be subject to review after a given period once the weir has been made passable to migrating fish at all water levels by way of a fish bypass channel to be constructed by Cork County Council.

How can I make a submission to the process?

All submissions must be received in writing.

Submissions should be marked ‘Public consultation – River Blackwater (Fermoy Weir)’ and be submitted by post to: Inland Fisheries Ireland, Sunnyside House, Macroom, Co. Cork, P12 X602 or by email to: Fermoybyelaw@fisheriesireland.ie

The Public Consultation period will run until 5 pm on Thursday 19th April.

Will my submission be made public?

All submissions received by Inland Fisheries Ireland will be published on its website www.fisheriesireland.ie. In addition Inland Fisheries Ireland is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997 and therefore has to consider any request made to it under that Act.

If you consider that any part of your submission would be subject to any of the statutory exclusions under that Act please so indicate in your submission, specifying under which exemption you believe the content should be excluded.

Inland Fisheries Ireland will make every effort to comply fully with the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003 and the EU Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC.