(Mayo County Council )
There are now only twelve or thirteen surviving wild brown trout lakes in all of Europe and six of them are in the west of Ireland. They are our greatest natural assets with limitless potential if properly managed and developed.
These lakes have survived since the Ice Ages but unfortunately they are now under greater threat than at any time since the first humans inhabited this area. Climate change, infrastructural developments and declining water quality are features of modern living that pose an undoubted threat to the lakes but unfortunately, the most immediate threat now comes from the inadequacy of the body charged with conserving, protecting and managing these unique waterways.
Back in the 1950s and 1960’, when Ireland was less well resourced than it is today, the state had the foresight, vision and initiative to establish the Inland Fisheries Trust and the Board of Conservators to preserve, maintain and enhance the lakes. Resources were found in very difficult economic circumstances to deploy crews in the little green vans and the little green boats.
Spawning streams were diligently and methodically maintained, weed growth was controlled, predators were controlled and public access areas were guarded and maintained. Enforcing closed seasons for trout fishing, rigid enforcement of minimum size limits and zero tolerance for poaching enhanced conservation.
Gainful employment
This investment and effort provided gainful employment in very deprived areas and paid handsome dividends by way of significant improvements in trout stocks and angling quality and this in turn resulted in a very welcome boost to angling tourism and the spin off it provided to ghillies, hotels, B&Bs and boat builders.
In 1980 the Regional Fisheries Boards resulted from the amalgamation of the Inland Fisheries Trust and the Board of Conservators and while they were cumbersome and fractious with competing interests the Western Board did a reasonable job in preserving the Crown Lakes for future generations. The Western Board continued the core functions of its predecessors and maintained employment levels to preserve and enhance our precious lakes. The 1999 Tourism Angling Management (TAM ) programme resulted in a huge investment in the fisheries and this resulted in a welcome boost to fish stocks and a commensurate increase in angling tourism. This was a win- win situation.
In 2010 the then government disbanded the regional boards and in its wisdom, established a national body called Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI ) to conserve, protect and manage our fisheries. This body started its life in a blaze of glory with about 500 staff nationally and inherited the equipment and expertise of the regional boards. Its establishment unfortunately coincided with the catastrophic economic crash and cut backs became the order of the day.
However, IFI still has elaborate administrative headquarters and storage facilities in Citywest and it still maintains all the staffed regional offices that it inherited from the regional boards. Its staff numbers have now declined to about 300 and about 100 of these are engaged in administrative work and research. IFI has large fleet of vehicles and has numerous kayaks, jet skis, quads and other fine equipment stored in centres around the country. The only thing that IFI lacks is “boots on the ground” and a focus on fish stocks and habitats.
Loughs Mask and Carra now have a staffing compliment of just three fisheries officers – down from twelve. The IFI base at Brownstown is currently being offered for sale. It is patently obvious that three staff cannot effectively expedite protection, stock management, in stream work, weed control and other core functions to maintain these lakes. The quality of the angling product is in progressive decline and consequently angling tourism is following the same trajectory.
Angling tourism down
Anyone who ever wet a line in these lakes knows that as sure a night follows day if the spawning streams and habitat are neglected trout numbers will decline. Declining staff numbers, lack of investment and the absence of a clear vision and plan for these priceless lakes will result in their further decline and ultimately their demise. “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” and IFI is prevaricating while the Great Lakes are expiring.
I’m not an angler but I have lived long enough in Ballinrobe to appreciate the importance of Loughs Mask and Carra and even Lough Corrib to the economic wellbeing of the town and the whole area. Lough Mask is now the source of water for most of South Mayo and Castlebar and the amenity value of the lake for fishing, boating, sight seeing and leisure activities is priceless.
After listening to the concerns raised by anglers and after discussing the situation with a wide range of local interests, I wrote to the CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland outlining my concerns. His response was basically of the “nothing to see here” variety and he suggested that I meet the local Fisheries Inspector to discuss the matter. I requested a copy of the management plan for Lough Mask but was directed to IFI’s five-year national Corporate Plan which leads me to believe that perhaps there is no specific management plan for this unique, iconic and once world renowned wild brown trout fishery. Could this be possible? I was anxious to pursue the matter so I e-mailed the CEO for the Inspector’s contact details two weeks ago and I’m still awaiting a response.
Once upon a time the Fisheries Board produced its own plans for conservation and development projects and their own staff efficiently executed them as part of their seasonal duties. Now we seem to be devoid of any plan and staff numbers in this area have reduced to a level that is approaching abandonment.
The western wild brown trout fisheries are a massive resource. They are our “Golden Vale”. Unfortunately, they are under pressure on a number of fronts and it is tragic and unfortunate that the body charged with their conservation and preservation seems to be in denial. We cannot countenance the further neglect and degradation of this great natural resource. I call on the councils to lead and support the demands for positive IFI intervention to save our lakes.
