ANGLING NOTES:IT IS ironic at a time when the Minister of State for the Marine, Conor Lenihan, opened a pilot salmon draft net fishery in Castlemaine Harbour, Co Kerry, that the Loughs Agency suspended commercial netting for salmon in the Lough Foyle area in Northern Ireland.
On the Kerry issue, take the following scenario. There are five rivers flowing into Castlemaine Harbour – three are running healthy salmon surpluses while two are below sustainable levels and closed to all fishing.
My question is this. How can commercial nets in the harbour distinguish between salmon destined for the Behy orLaune rivers, for example? Surely it’s impossible.
This contentious precedent will require close scrutiny by the angling sector as it appears to border on a breach of Government policy and Ireland’s obligation under the EU Habitats Directive. It also flies in the face of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation.
In the North, the Loughs Agency has suspended commercial netting in the River Foyle, Lough Foyle and seaward of Lough Foyle, and restricted angling in the Finn and Foyle rivers to angling on a catch-and-release basis from June 14th.
The suspension is because the number of salmon upriver of the Finn fish counter over the past five years has not exceeded 5,410, a figure stipulated by Foyle Regulations to ensure a healthy sustainable level.
The agency was forced to take action to protect and conserve wild Atlantic salmon, and to take account of the agency’s national and international obligations including requirements of the EU Habitats Directive.
This states that “if a species is included under the Directive (of which North Atlantic Salmon are), measures must be taken to maintain or restore them to favourable status in their natural range.”
-There is a charity pike competition for a very worthy cause will take place this Sunday at Loughs Oughter and Garty in Co Cavan. Alannah Moriarty (aged 11 months) from Dublin is blind and requires surgery in China to allow her limited vision, at a cost of €80,000. Check-in at Breffni Arms Hotel, Arvagh, Co Cavan, from 9.30am, with fishing 11am until 5pm. Contact anglerssupportalannah.webs.com
-The 53rd World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championships is scheduled for Lough Mask in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, from July 29th to August 2nd. More than 600 competitors are expected for the five-day festival on one of Ireland's finest wild trout fisheries.
Last year’s winner Robert Crichton from Douglas, Co Cork, caught seven trout and so became the first angler to apply catch-and-release in this prestigious competition. Regulations stipulate a maximum of four fish per day per angler.
Entry form and a €150 fee, should be sent to Esther Sweeney, 30 Lakelawns, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, by July 15th. Contact 087-2170353.
-Four times world champion Bob Nudd, from Cambridgeshire, is hosting a special three-day event at Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, starting on Monday August 9th on some of Cavan's famous lakes.
Nudd will fish with guests at three different venues with one-to-one opportunities for coaching, advice, hints and tips to catch fish. There is a strict limit of 12 anglers per day. “Without a doubt, Ireland has the most natural and best coarse silver-fish angling in Europe”, he said.
To participate, contact Active Irish Angling on 071-9642743. The fee is €120 per day; €210 for two days or €280 for three.
-Ireland finished in a creditable fourth position at last week's world coarse fishing championships in Merida, Spain. The result matches Ireland's previous best team performance in Corruche, Portugal, in 1993.
In the individual event, Cathal Hughes won a silver medal with a section win on finals day to claim second place overall. Results: 1st England; 2nd Italy; 3rd Netherlands; 4th Ireland.
-A new State agency, Inland Fisheries Ireland, came into being last Thursday following the amalgamation of the central fisheries board and seven regional fisheries boards. Full details next week.
angling@irishtimes.com