Anglers warned wild brown trout facing decimation

Anton McNulty

AN environmental scientist has warned the future of the wild brown trout will be in jeopardy around western lakes and rivers if pikes are allowed to roam and freely breed.
Over 200 anglers from all over Connacht were present at the launch of the Connacht Angling Council’s ‘Pike Are Predators – Save our Wild Brown Trout’ which took place at the Boat Inn in Oughterard last week.
Following the meeting the trout anglers vowed to step up pressure on politicians and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to ensure the safety of the wild brown trout.
They heard keynote speaker, London-based environmental scientist, Dr Roderick O’Sullivan, state that stocks of wild brown trout will diminish rapidly in western waters if Pike are permitted to roam and freely breed.
“The ecosystems of Irish wild brown trout fisheries at Loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow (Sligo/Roscommon) and Sheelin (Westmeath, Meath, Cavan and Longford) are under serious threat from Pike,” he said.
“Stocks of wild brown trout are facing decimation in west of Ireland lakes if pike numbers are allowed to spiral out of control. The implications for the ecosystem of western fisheries and the tourism economy will be enormous,” Dr O’Sullivan added.
The launch of the campaign has come after anglers from around the west of Ireland have expressed concerns over the rumours that pike are to be introduced to waters in the region. Many anglers in the west of Ireland want to keep the waterways free of pike and other species in favour of salmon and trout and this has led to some friction between those who favour fishing other species.

Review
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is currently reviewing its policy regarding control of predator pike and the Connacht Angling Council are to submit policy changes as part of the review. The submissions include the immediate predator pike cull and severe penalties for the importation of live bait as well as a closed season for all fishing needs to be introduced from September 30 to February 15.
They also want Inland Fisheries Ireland to maintain its bye-laws in relation to the gill netting and electro fishing of predator pike for the pike spawning season.
Martin Kinneavy, Chairperson of the Connacht Angling Council, said that wild brown trout angling is worth €148m per year to the Irish economy and the IFI need to protect the industry from the pike.
“Inland Fisheries Ireland is currently reviewing its policy regarding control of predator pike. The Connacht Angling Council will do all in its power to ensure that our world famous Irish wild brown trout fisheries are protected by law from predator pike so they can reach their full trout angling potential.
“Wild brown trout angling is worth €148m per year to the Irish economy but predator pike are eating wild brown trout stocks. Predator pike are far more prolific breeders than wild brown trout and a predator pike will eat as much as 40lbs of wild brown trout per-year.
“In their pike policy document of 2014, IFI pointed out that tourist revenue from wild brown trout angling far outweighs that from predator pike fishing. Wild brown trout fisheries are unique eco-systems and need to be protected by law; otherwise, we are staring at the destruction of our wild brown trout. Wild brown trout fisheries should be managed exclusively for the benefit of wild brown trout,” he concluded.