ANGLING NOTES / DEREK EVANS:The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan, last Wednesday met Michelle Gildernew, MP MLA, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Junior Minister Ian Paisley Jnr (OFDFM) at the North-South Ministerial Council on Aquaculture and Marine Sector.
Topics discussed by the council included the approval of the Lough Agency's marine tourism strategy 2008-13 to provide for developing access infrastructure, marine tourism and recreational fisheries. On implementation, it will bring significant regeneration to the Foyle and Carlingford areas.
Conservation must be at the heart of fisheries management, the Minister said. "Indeed, I learned today that preliminary indications show some rivers in Donegal experienced their best salmon run in years. This is vindication of the conservation principle implemented by the Government's adoption of the report by the Independent Working Group on salmon last year."
Meanwhile, responding to a query by Angling Noteson the possible opening of the River Boyne for next season, a spokesperson said they were awaiting advice from the Standing Scientific Committee and the Natural Fisheries Managers Executive. The Boyne required 65 per cent of its conservation limit in order to be allowed open for catch and release. Last year the river reached 64.9 per cent.
Reopening the river would mean club rod anglers could again enjoy catching their prized fish and engage in catch and release with its 99 per cent proven success rate. Also, the angler's presence would be a deterrent to poachers. We await a decision with baited breath.
• At the recent agm of the Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors-Ireland (APGAI) in Blackwater Lodge Salmon Fishery, Upper Ballyduff, Co Waterford, the emphasis focused on encouraging more young people to take up angling by ensuring that qualified instructors were available to lead them on the right path.
A syllabus for instructors was reviewed to appraise potential candidates of the knowledge and skills required to attain this top qualification. It was agreed to initiate a two-day workshop to discuss the syllabus at length and provide information on casting and teaching skills by APGAI-Ireland members. Safety awareness modules will also feature.
The workshop is scheduled for February 23rd-24th at a venue yet to be decided. The cost, at €450, includes the two-day workshop; the first assessment on June 21st-22nd in Navan, Co Meath, and, for those unsuccessful at this attempt, entry to a second assessment on October 18th, again in Navan. Candidates will be tested in single and double-handed casting and fly dressing.
The association was founded in 2001 at the behest of the Central Fisheries Board. At that time, it was considered proper that Ireland should have its own governing body for game angling instructors, which would develop and maintain the highest international standards in game-angling instruction.
In 2004, five current APGAI-Ireland members achieved the most coveted game-angling qualification in the world - the United States Federation of Fly Fishers Master Casting Instructors Certificate - on the Delaware River at Roscoe, New York. They are: Liam Duffy, Robert Gillespie, Patrick Trotter, Peter O'Reilly and Andrew Ryan.
Today, APGAI-Ireland promotes fly-fishing and related environmental programmes among the youth and in classrooms, and this year hosted three successful ladies-only days in support of Action Breast Cancer. All members hold a current Police Certificate of Character.
The following were elected for 2008: president, John Woodside (Waterford); chairman, Joe Stitt (Antrim); vice-chairman, Arthur Greenwood (Belfast); hon. sec, Tom Woods (Tyrone); PRO: Glenda Powell (Waterford) and treasurer, Patrick Trotter (Fermanagh). Committee members are Eamonn Conway; Colin Charters; Peter O'Reilly and Liam Duffy.
Applications for the workshop should be sent to the secretary, Tom Woods before February 1st, at tomsangling@yahoo.co.uk or 048 855 48659. Further information at www.apgai-ireland.ie
• The Howth Lifeboat rescued a crew of four from the sinking fishing vessel Crystal Sea at 4am last Thursday. The vessel hit Puck Rock in the Balscadden area north of Howth and sank during the rescue. The lifeboat crew retrieved the fishermen from the rocks. The all-weather and inshore lifeboats assisted.
Rupert Jeffares, lifeboat operations manager, said, "Our voluntary crew were on hand within minutes as they provide a 24-hour rescue service".