An angling website claims there are covert plans by fishermen from the UK and Ireland to introduce three species of non-native fish into western waterways that have been designated wild brown trout fisheries.
The post on the Irish Pike Society Facebook page states that the group plans to introduce chub, barbel and catfish in the next fortnight to rivers and lakes, some of which are regarded as the world’s top destination for salmon and trout anglers.
The post, which has since been removed, states: “A group of lads from the UK and Ireland have collaborated together and are intending to introduce chub, barbel and catfish in the various rivers and lakes on the west coast, including the Corrib, Mask, Conn, Clare River, Robe River and the Moy with fish to arrive as early as the next fortnight”.
Inland Fisheries Ireland said it was aware of the post that was uploaded on the society’s Facebook page.
“Inland Fisheries Ireland is always monitoring the resource to ensure protection against invasive species. Inland Fisheries Ireland has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the public to report incidents and this phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.”
The threat is the latest move in an ongoing row between anglers who want to keep the western fisheries free of pike and other non-native fish and those who feel discriminated against by advocates for trout and salmon.
The record for a pike caught on Lough Derg measuring an enormous five feet eight inches – taller than the average man – was more than 90lbs.
Colin Wolfe, chairman of the Oughterard Anglers & Boatmen Association, said it was believed locally that pike were introduced illegally a decade ago into the Owenriff, a vital spawning river for Atlantic salmon, Corrib trout and the Freshwater Pearl Mussel off Oughterard and a major tributary of Lough Corrib.
Owenriff trout account for approximately 15% of the stock in the Corrib.
Local anglers claim the numbers of trout and salmon has since dropped dramatically as they are preyed on by the predatory pike before they have the chance to mature and swim across the Corrib system.
Angling tourist numbers have decreased considerably due to low stock numbers in the western lakes.
See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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