Sir, - I have to express my serious concerns about the gill nets on Lough Corrib and Mask. Whilst enjoying an afternoon's fishing on the Corrib near Ballynalty Bay I came across two dead trout, floating on the surface. Both were within a short distance of a gill net which was clearly marked by orange buoys. I became concerned and so I decided to take a closer look nearer the shore (the wind was blowing towards the shore) and found three more dead trout between the reeds. They all had superficial marks on their head and body. Clearly, trout found in gill nets by the Fisheries Board and then released, do not survive.
This incident was observed just on the one day and in one bay, and near one gill net. There are many nets set out for a long time and in many bays which makes one wonder how many trout are dying in the nets or die later on after being released from the nets! Probably many hundreds or even thousands. Is that what the Fisheries Board are trying to achieve?
Yours, etc.,
Limerick.
