Over the last few weeks, the Loughs Agency’s education team have been busy informing and educating pupils and teachers within the Foyle and Carlingford catchment areas about our waterways.

Education officer Michael Cosgrove made several visits to St Mary’s College in Derry to help Year 11 and 12 students with some practical water-quality assessments, using samples from both strong and weak water-quality sites as a comparison exercise.

Michael talked about the history of the Loughs Agency as well as the work the agency does across the Foyle and Carlingford Catchments, before finally delivering a presentation on the science of water.

The workshops delivered by Michael helped the students complete their Science BTEC and afterwards the school showed their appreciation by sending a thank-you card.

Michael also visited Eglinton Community Pre-School to deliver a marine show-and-tell. He talked to the children about ocean literacy and marine biodiversity, before giving them a chance to look at different shells, seaweeds and marine objects.

Michael also brought along some of the Loughs Agency’s inflatable marine wildlife, which proved to be the star of the show!

Michael and fellow education officer Jack Porter visited Year 8 pupils at Castlederg High School in Co Tyrone to deliver a lesson on the science of water as part of their “Living Things” day.

Pupils at Castlederg High School got the chance to have a closer look at the macroinvertebrates that live within their local river

With one session in the morning and another in the afternoon, Michael and Jack engaged with 80 first-year students, offering them an introduction to the agency and teaching them about the important work it does in and around the local rivers. This was followed by a presentation which allowed the children to better understand the hydrological cycle and the biodiversity within our rivers.

A sample of river water was brought into the classroom as the pupils got the chance to have a closer look at the macroinvertebrates that live within the river. The education team divided these samples into separate trays and distributed these across the classroom. The pupils were then tasked with identifying the different invertebrates using ID sheets, with cased caddisflies being the clear favourite.

To conclude the day, pupils got the chance to use the salmon life cycle board game which is both fun and educational.

At Omagh County Primary School, Jack Porter and fishery officer Richard Farrow delivered a presentation on the role of the agency and the importance of water quality. They then split the 40 Primary 3 pupils into separate groups and asked them to identify the macroinvertebrates in their tray. This was followed by a talk from Richard on the importance of protecting and caring for our local waterways.

Jack Porter also delivered “Science of Water” workshops to six schools in Co Donegal — Dromore National School in Killygordon; Cloughfin National School in Lifford; St Baithin’s NS in St Johnston; Scoil Cholmcille in Greencastle; St Eunan’s NS, Raphoe; and Glencovitt NS in Ballybofey — that had completed the Something Fishy project which taught pupils across the River Finn catchment about their local waterways, aiming to heighten awareness of the agency’s role within conservation and protection, as well providing teachers the tools to educate children on the lifecycle of the salmon.

Jack returned to St Baithin’s to deliver a workshop to the Senior Infants and First Class pupils on the science of water. Afterwards the pupils engaged with some local macroinvertebrates, were taught the importance of protecting rivers and learned all about the various lives that exist within their local streams and waterways.

The children found the workshop very engaging, asking excellent questions and showing a desire to learn more about the local environment, the Loughs Agency says.

The Loughs Agency recently took its StreamKeepers programme to the Glenelly Valley in Co Tyrone for an event aimed at encouraging people to get involved with their local waterways and environment.

The community outreach programme collaborated with the Glenelly Historical Society for the most recent leg of the initiative and one of the society’s funders, Rose Mary Murphy, was delighted with the event.

“The StreamKeepers event was a fantastic opportunity for members of the public to learn about the heritage value and natural history of the local waterways here in Glenelly,” she said.

Community members learn about the biodiversity of their local environment during the StreamKeepers event | Credit: Jason McCartan Photography

“Our group started 20 years ago with the aim of maintaining a connection to the past. We set up a ‘Glenelly Our Home’ page on Facebook and shared stories and photographs from the local area. This resulted in posts from people in places as far away as America and Australia who were interested in learning more about the history of Glenelly.

“For the StreamKeepers event, we decided to focus on the bridges that are located near waterways. In Badoney Upper, there are 51 townlands, and in these townlands, bridges were created as an entry point to inaccessible locations.

“Many of these townlands no longer have any inhabitants, but we hope that programmes such as StreamKeepers will continue to educate the community about the importance of maintaining their local waterways, which in turn could revive interest in these areas. Our plan is to simply appreciate history and continue to educate future generations about Glenelly.”

Some of the members of the local community who took part in the recent StreamKeepers event in Co Tyrone | Credit: Jason McCartan Photography

Aoibheann Gillespie-Mules is the environmental education and outreach Officer at the Loughs Agency, and she believes it is imperative that programmes such as StreamKeepers provide an opportunity for people to look after their local streams, rivers and lakes.

She said: “StreamKeepers brings people of all ages together, not only to preserve our waterways, but to create a valuable learning experience while looking after the environment.

“It offers groups the opportunity to discover, explore and learn about their local watercourse. The programme is facilitated by Loughs Agency staff and involves the exploration of rivers, discovering their journey through time as well as exploring positive connections through the river system.”

See the Loughs Agency website for more information about the StreamKeepers programme.

Loughs Agency chief executive Sharon McMahon was delighted to see the Carlingford catchment included in US President Joe Biden’s visit to Ireland.

Following his arrival in Belfast on Tuesday (11 April), President Biden then travelled across the border into Co Louth on Wednesday afternoon (12 April), stopping for a tour of King John’s Castle which overlooks the scenic Carlingford Lough.

McMahon said: “We were delighted to see President Biden enjoying his visit to Carlingford, an area of outstanding natural beauty and marine resources that offers unique opportunities for visitors to connect with the surroundings.

“As a North—South organisation, we are committed to promoting sustainable development while also conserving the natural environment.

“Beyond the breathtaking views of the lough, Carlingford also boasts beautiful mountain views, stunning valleys and a wide range of fishing options for a variety of anglers, from trout fishing in the rivers and lakes to sea angling from the shore.”

The Loughs Agency CEO added: “Mr Biden’s visit is one of positivity and we are confident that it will further enhance Carlingford’s reputation as a popular tourism destination. We look forward to welcoming many more visitors in the near future.”

A public consultation on the Loughs Agency’s angling and fisheries improvement strategy and action plans for Foyle and Carlingford has been launched.

The consultation, which will run for a period of eight weeks, will provide members of the public with the opportunity to share their thoughts on the agency’s plans for improving angling and fisheries products in these catchment areas.

Three informative, data-led documents have been drafted by the Loughs Agency, which aim to provide a baseline for how best to implement changes that will have a real and lasting impact on angling and fisheries in the coming years.

These documents are the Fisheries and Angling Improvement Strategy for Foyle and Carlingford 2022-2030; Angling Action Plan for Foyle and Carlingford 2022-2030; and Fisheries Improvement Action Plan for Foyle and Carlingford 2022-2030.

A stakeholder consultation process was held in late 2022, which provided angling clubs and members of the angling community with an early chance to have their say. This feedback has since been incorporated into the latest drafts.

Loughs Agency will be holding a series of information sessions throughout the catchment areas in April. Agency staff will be present at these to answer questions on the documents, while also assisting with the feedback process. The sessions will take place as follows:

• Loughs Agency HQ, Prehen, Monday 17 April from 6pm-9pm
• Mellon Country Inn, Omagh, Tuesday 18 April from 6pm-9pm
• Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey, Monday 24 April from 6pm-9pm
• Canal Court Hotel, Newry, Tuesday 25 April from 6pm-9pm

Alternatively, those interested in having their say on these strategy documents can do so in their own time by completing the survey which can be found on Loughs Agency’s website.

Sharon McMahon, Loughs Agency chief executive said: “This public consultation will allow us to ensure all views are taken into consideration as we aim to deliver an outcome-orientated approach to fisheries and angling improvement.

“The feedback obtained from this process will help in the development of a clear strategic pathway, ensuring that these resources are improved for all.

“I would like to thank the agency staff who have contributed to developing these documents with a focus on knowledge, stewardship and sustainability. This work will help in the delivery of meaningful changes to fisheries and angling in Foyle and Carlingford.”

The draft documents as well as a link to the survey can also be found on the Consultations section of the Loughs Agency website.

Loughs Agency has confirmed the appointment of Sharon McMahon as Chief Executive Officer.

Mrs McMahon will assume the role on a permanent basis following a recent selection process, having served as the Agency’s most senior official in an interim capacity since March 2017.

Heather Mackey, Loughs Agency Board Chairperson, congratulated Mrs McMahon on her appointment. She said: “Sharon has been with the Agency since 2014, and throughout this time she has demonstrated her passion and commitment to the long-term strategic direction of the organisation.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to wish Sharon every success as she continues striving to deliver on our statutory functions within both the Foyle and Carlingford catchment areas.”

Commenting on her appointment, Mrs McMahon said: “I am honoured to have the opportunity to continue leading Loughs Agency as we strive to tackle the challenges currently faced by the organisation. I want to thank the Board and Sponsor Departments for putting their faith in me, and I look forward to working with our talented team, partners, and stakeholders to ensure the sustainable management of these vital ecosystems for future generations."

The Loughs Agency has launched a new community outreach programme designed to promote the importance of protecting our natural resources and waterways.

The StreamKeepers programme aims to educate and engage community members in the preservation and conservation of local rivers, lakes and streams.

This initiative will take place on a cross-border basis in the Foyle and Carlingford catchments, where groups will have the opportunity to discover, explore and analyse their local waterways, meet other StreamKeepers and build connections throughout the catchment areas.

StreamKeepers will include a variety of project elements, including the exploration and study of rivers and chartering their history, community clean-up events and sharing data on the health of local waterways.

The programme will also provide resources and support for community members to take action and make a positive impact on the environment.

Sharon McMahon, Loughs Agency chief executive said: “We are thrilled to launch this innovative programme, which will provide an opportunity to bring the community together to protect our natural resources.

“By working together, we can make a real difference to the health of our local waterways and ensure they are protected for future generations.

“StreamKeepers will be facilitated by Loughs Agency staff and experts to assist local community groups within the Foyle and Carlingford catchments, which will create a valuable learning experience that ultimately leads to environmental and community benefits.”

The first two StreamKeepers events took place on 3 and 8 February, with a third scheduled for next Monday 20 February. Community members interested in signing up can visit the Loughs Agency’s StreamKeepers page for more information.

The StreamKeepers programme is supported by funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund.

The Loughs Agency will retain salmon carcass tag numbers for licence holders for the 2023 season in line with the policy followed in the previous two years.

Based on the information collected in 2022, a continual fall in salmon numbers has been recorded year on year, and consequently the precautionary approach previously adopted needs to be maintained, the agency says.

Its interim policy was introduced for the 2020/2021 season whereby the number of tags issued with a game angling licence was reduced to a maximum of one blue tag (1 March to 31 May) and two black tags (1 June to 31 October).

The agency says that after careful evaluation it was decided to maintain the previous position adopted in both 2021 and 2022 while introducing in-year reviews of the salmon runs based on fish counter data, annual angling returns and run strength.

The principal objective of this measure is to carefully manage salmon in the Foyle system due to concern from within the agency over conservation levels of the species.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Loughs Agency has suspended netting in the Foyle area and restricted angling ion the River Finn as a result of a significant drop in recorded salmon migrations upstream.

“It is the view of some stakeholders that the agency should manage carcass tags on a catchment-by-catchment basis,” it says. “The use of real-time figures can be beneficial in informing decision-making on the number of tags to be distributed per year, and how many tags can be given out for angling in each catchment.”

This viewpoint is to be considered in regulatory changes once actions from the review can be implemented, the agency adds.

In the majority of rivers throughout Northern Ireland and in many locations globally, catch and release is now mandatory for salmon angling due to the pressures on sustainable populations. In these areas, no carcass tags are issued, and anglers are forbidden from retaining any fish.

It is encouraging that most anglers in the Foyle area are aware of these pressures, and now voluntarily practice catch and release, the Loughs Agency says.

The agency also emphasised that it “recognises the value of anglers on the rivers and their contributions towards sustainability”.

The Loughs Agency has issued a declaration suspending netting in the River Foyle, Lough Foyle and seaward of Lough Foyle and restricting angling in the River Finn to catch-and-release only.

The restrictions have been put in place to protect the Atlantic salmon, the agence says.

It explains that the number of salmon which have migrated upstream of the River Finn fish counter during each of the previous five years has not exceeded 5,410 as stipulated in the Foyle Area (Control of Fishing) Regulations, 2010.

A copy of the full declaration can be viewed in Irish and English.

Fishery officers from the Loughs Agency recently observed zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) near Victoria Lock at the Newry Canal.

Zebra mussels are an invasive non-native Species (INNS), meaning they have been transported outside of their natural geographic range only to proliferate in their new environment, contributing to habitat loss, species extinction, ecosystem impacts, risks to human health and economic impacts.

Multiple specimens from a range of age classes were observed in the Newry Canal during low water conditions at the end of the summer. The presence of several age classes suggests an established, spawning population, the Loughs Agency says.

Zebra mussels were first recorded in Ireland in 1997 on the lower part of the navigable Shannon system, although it is believed that the species may have actually arrived years earlier. They were first reported in Northern Ireland in 1998 at Lower Lough Erne and, by 2010, a confirmed spawning population was present in Lough Neagh.

Although zebra mussels are now widespread across the island of Ireland, they still present a number of significant ecological, social and commercial threats to native systems. The introduction of this invasive species can lead to unprecedented ecological changes, which occur as a result of zebra mussel settlement, filter feeding and excretion. The combination of these factors has the potential to significantly alter native ecosystems.

Social and commercial factors associated with zebra mussel invasions involve the detrimental effects of mussel ‘biofouling’ on man-made structures such as recreational and commercial watercraft, water intake and cooling systems on industrial plants, jetties and pontoons.

Other economic issues arise from the potential loss of income or employment as a result of the negative ecological impacts, which includes a reduction in the density of an economically valuable species. These impacts all have financial implications in terms of management, mitigation and prevention.

Loughs Agency chief executive Sharon McMahon said: “Invasive species have arrived and are continuing to arrive across the island of Ireland through a variety of vectors, almost universally caused by human actions. Therefore, it is imperative that preventative measures are taken to avoid further spread and introductions.

“It is the responsibility of all water users to ensure that invasive non-native species are not transferred between water bodies. Do not introduce zebra mussels to any new sites and all sightings of the species should be reported. Avoid fouling of boats and equipment, and ensure everything is clean before moving to any new waterbodies. In addition, do not move ballast water between waterbodies.“”

Invasive Species Northern Ireland recommends the ‘Check Clean Dry’ approach for best practice in biosecurity on Ireland’s waterways. For further details on INNS found within the Foyle and Carlingford catchments, visit the Loughs Agency website.

The Loughs Agency has been announced as a new Corporate Bronze Member of Leave No Trace Ireland.

In partnering with the organisation, the cross-border agency will reinforce its calls for water users to become environmental stewards in the Foyle and Carlingford catchment areas, while its educational initiatives will highlight the organisation’s ethos to school pupils.

Sharon McMahon, Loughs Agency chief executive said: “We are delighted to become Leave No Trace Ireland’s newest Corporate Bronze Member. The values of both organisations are closely aligned as we share the common goal of protecting and conserving our natural environment.

“It is now more important than ever for all water users, ranging from anglers to those partaking in recreational activities such as sailing, canoeing and coastal camping, to ensure they abide by the seven key principles outlined by the organisation.

“Disposing of waste properly and minimising the effects of fire are two of these, which will form part of our environmental messaging moving forward.

“We are excited to work with Leave No Trace Ireland and we’re optimistic that through meaningful partnerships such as this, we can raise awareness of our roles and responsibilities in ensuring that everyone gets to enjoy the natural world for many years to come.”

The Loughs Agency says it will now begin implementing Leave No Trace principles into its work, and through its membership will embed the ethos further into its educational initiatives.