Anglers were vigorously opposed to hydro-electric schemes on rivers because they knew the conditions laid down in planning permission would not be monitored, a leading member of the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland has claimed.
The number of applications for hydro schemes has increased in recent years. Government policy is to encourage energy production from renewable resources. Anglers and canoeists have had many proposed schemes in the south-west overturned.
Mr John O'Hare, of the federation, said he had several times watched hydro schemes in Co Kerry where none of the conditions laid down by the local authority and An Bord Pleanála were being adhered to. The point had come up strongly at a recent hearing on foot of an appeal to An Bord Pleanála on two such proposed schemes in the county.
"I can't see why councils give planning permission for these developments if they are not being monitored by themselves or by An Bord Pleanála. This is one of the reasons anglers object to hydro schemes in particular - there's no one to check up."
The South Western Regional Fisheries Board, where Mr O'Hare represents the trout sector, has drawn up guidelines on hydro schemes. There are several applications each year for schemes on even the smallest rivers in Cork and Kerry.
The board wants "retrospective" inspection and amendments to existing schemes and also to lay down stricter conditions for small schemes. The term "small" can be misleading, the guidelines warn. Smaller schemes have no water storage and the volume of water diverted from the main channel to power the heads may be high, even during dry spells.
Anglers are particularly concerned at small hydro schemes at headwater sites. They say that increasing the storage area of existing lakes to ensure a source of water for hydro-electric generation can have serious consequences for fish and may cause a loss of spawning and nursery areas and of stream habitat.