A public consultation on the long-term management of the Great Western Lakes got underway earlier this month and Inland Fisheries Ireland is urging the Galway public, especially the angling community and anyone who uses the lakes, or lives near them, to make a submission ahead of open evenings in Headford, Oughterard and Partry for the public in September.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is the state agency responsible for the protection, conservation and management of the inland fisheries resource has developed a draft plan for the long-term management of seven lakes; Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, Lough Carra, Lough Conn and Lough Cullin, Lough Arrow and Lough Sheelin.
The draft plans focus on some of the many factors that impact on the ecological well-being and status of native fish stocks. The lakes have long been designated, as a matter of policy, to be managed primarily as wild brown trout waters. The proposed draft plan will conserve, enhance and conserve where possible the lakes’ natural attributes and native biodiversity. This, in turn, would optomise the lake’s potential as sustainable brown trout fisheries and, in some cases, Atlantic salmon fisheries. Other species such as eels, Artic Char and Ferox trout are reflected in the draft plan.
Speaking at the start of the public consultation process, Francis O’Donnell, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, urged the public to participate by reading the draft plan and making a submission. He said: “It’s clear to see that all seven lakes share a series of pressures which are impacting on their ecosystem stability and native fish stocks. These include declining water quality, fisheries habitat loss, invasive species and the detrimental effects of climate change. These issues will be tackled through the various measures proposed in this draft plan. That is why the public consultation process is such an incredibly important step, as it gives the Galway public the perfect opportunity to have their say.”
During the consultation period, open evenings will take place in Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Cavan where members of the public can drop in and meet an Inland Fisheries Ireland representative, discuss the draft plan, seek clarification or ask questions. The draft plan is available from the Inland Fisheries Ireland website at www.fisheriesireland.ie/westernlakesplan or by visiting Inland Fisheries Ireland’s offices in Galway, Ballina, Sheelin or Limerick.
The deadline for making a submission is 5pm on Tuesday, September 20th and those wishing to make a submission are being encouraged to use the online questionnaire which will guide them through the headings of the plan. Unfortunately, any submissions received after the deadline has passed cannot be considered.
The open evenings are taking place at the Anglers Rest Hotel, Headford on Wednesday, September 7 and at the Courthouse in Oughterard on Thursday September 8. The Partry Community Centre in Co. Mayo will also be hosting an open evening on Tuesday, September 6 with other dates in Ballina, Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo and Mountnugent, Co. Cavan. All open evenings run from 4pm to 8pm and no ticket or advance registration is required.
Mr O’Donnell added that they are urging anyone in Galway with an interest in the Great Western Lakes, especially anglers, other users of the lakes or those that live nearby to have their say by making a written submission online before the September 20th deadline.
“Only written submissions, submitted to the consultation via the form, email or to the consultation address will be considered.’” — Roisin Kilroy
