#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has launched a public consultation in preparation for the development of a National Angling Development Plan (NADP).

It is envisaged that the NADP will provide criteria, support and proposals to ensure the sustainability of Ireland’s angling resource and the continuing sustainable development of that resource to maximise the benefits – both social and economic – to Ireland on a prioritised basis.

Anglers, angling clubs, angling federations, fishery owners, community groups, angling service providers, State agencies and members of the public are being invited to make submissions.

Such submissions may include strategies for the development of angling, physical development projects, novice angler initiatives, evaluation criteria of fisheries status by species/discipline type (ie what makes a good fishery) and angling/fishery support service requirements. Submissions can be formulated on a national, regional or local basis as necessary.

An essential part of IFI's consideration will be how a development plan can be implemented, the resource requirements and how the support of fishery owners, anglers, State bodies and other stakeholders can be garnered so that the sector prospers.

Minister of State Joe McHugh, who has responsibility for the inland fisheries sector, said: “IFI have been tasked to formulate a comprehensive development plan on a national basis, the need for which clearly arises form the most complete study of the sector ever undertaken.

“I want to encourage a consultation process which is inclusive and which embraces angling federations, local authorities and other interested bodies but which also permeates right through to local club and community level.

"This is an opportunity to be heard and to contribute to strategy and policy for a sector than can further underpin development and employment in rural, costal and peripheral communities,” he added.

A recent study of the recreational angling sector in Ireland, carried out by international consultancy company Tourism Development International (TDI) and commissioned by IFI, estimated that recreational angling in Ireland contributes €755 million to the Irish economy annually.

The study showed that direct spending on angling in Ireland amounted to €555 million in 2012, with indirect and induced spending worth an additional €310 million. Following adjustments for imports and displacement, the overall economic impact of recreational angling in Ireland was estimated to be €755 million.

Recreational angling was also found to directly support 10,000 existing Irish jobs, many of which are located in the most peripheral and rural parts of the Irish countryside and along our coastline.

The study found that 406,000 people were involved in recreational angling in Ireland during 2012, with over 150,000 of these travelling from Northern Ireland and overseas.

Over a quarter of a million Irish adults (252,000) held a fishing rod in 2012, with sea angling along with salmon and brown trout angling seen as the most popular categories where domestic anglers are concerned.

The quality of the Irish angling product, the friendliness and hospitality of the Irish people and our outstanding scenery were cited among the principal attractions of Ireland as an international destination for recreational angling. The tourism angling spend is estimated at approximately €280 million on an annual basis.

IFI says the study highlights the need to continue to protect and nurture the inland fisheries resource and grow its potential contribution to the tourism sector in Ireland.

Further information on the consultation is available at www.fisheriesireland.ie. A template for making submissions is also available on the website or alternatively one may be requested from local IFI offices.

Submissions must be made in writing, marked ‘NADP – public consultation’ and addressed to Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland, 3044 Lake Drive, Citywest, Dublin 24 or by email to [email protected].

The deadline for receipt of submissions is 3pm on Tuesday 31 March 2015.

#WaterfrontProperty - The Irish Examiner reports on a new arrival to the waterfront property market in Woodville House, a unique country home on the banks of the River Blackwater in Co Cork.

With an asking price of €625,000, this five-bay Victorian home between Fermoy and Mallow may be large, but owner Dr Brendan Cousins remarks on its simple maintenance.

And the four-bed main house with a self-contained two-bed annex comes with all the modern conveniences you might expect, like central heating, as well as others that might surprise, such as washbasins in the bedrooms.

But the real attraction, besides the sheltered 11-acre grounds retaining many of the old stone walls of outbuildings, is surely the salmon fishing - with local angling club members allowed access on a rotational basis.

The Irish Examiner has much more on this property HERE.

#Jobs - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is currently seeking to recruit a number of staff as Fishery Officers nationally for periods of up to a maximum of six months duration during 2015, and will shortly commence a process to fill these positions.

The Fishery Officer will be primarily concerned with the implementation and enforcement of the provision of the Fisheries Acts, Water Pollution Acts and other relevant statutory provisions. He or she is required to:

• Provide, in co-operation with other fisheries staff, comprehensive conservation and protection services, inland and at sea, within any part of a fisheries district and/or any other area assigned within one or more fisheries districts.
• Provide, in co-operation with other fisheries staff, comprehensive improvement, and development and fisheries management support services within any part of a fisheries district and/or any other area assigned within one or more fisheries districts.

A number of positions will be concerned with assisting either directly or indirectly in fisheries-related research projects. Please note a full driving licence valid in the State is required.

Salary will be at the first point of Fishery Officer Scale (as at 1 November 2013) plus an Unsocial Hours allowance, which will be paid at either 50% or 100% relative to the number of unsocial hours worked.

Applications (a cover letter and up-to-date CV) should be sent by 12 noon on Monday 23 February 2015 to [email protected] or by post to:

HR Department, Ref: ‘HR/FO/2015’

Inland Fisheries Ireland

3044 Lake Drive

Citywest Business Campus

Dublin 24


All enquiries to [email protected] or 01 884 2662. Please note that late applications will not be processed. Canvassing will disqualify. IFI is an equal opportunities employer.

#Angling - Casting Territory: A Contemporary River Keepers’ Index of Lesser Known Patterns is a new collaborative art project by artist Martina O’Brien and the Dodder Anglers Club.

O'Brien uses the art of fly-tying – where the act of imitation meets intimate knowledge – to explore the angler’s inherent awareness of flora and fauna, physical geography and role as guardians of the River Dodder with a series of alternative flies.

The exhibition is divided across three locations – RUA RED in Tallaght, the RDS Library and Archives in Ballsbridge and the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre at Grand Canal Quay – allowing a complete story to unfold along the length and breath of the river’s axis.

In addition to this, a fly-tying demonstration will be followed by an artist-led discussion with Gareth Kennedy, Martina O’Brien and members of the Dodder Anglers core group at RUA RED from 2pm to 4pm on Saturday 7 February.

And on Saturday 21 February a collaborative discussion with Dr Karen E Till of Maynooth University, Katherine Atkinson of Create, Martina O'Brien and the Dodder anglers will take place at 10am at the RDS Library and Archives, involving a walk to the Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre (prior booking is essential).

Casting Territory is supported by an Arts Council Artist in the Community Scheme Project Realisation Award managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts.

#Angling - Anglers and farmers have come together to bid for fishing rights at a Galway fishery in a first for Ireland and the British Isles.

As the Mayo News reports, some 24 local landowners in Leenane teamed up with the area angling club to form the Erriff and Dstrict Community Group (EDCG), which has tendered for the licence for the Erriff Fishery.

The tender also covers operation of the accompanying Victorian country house Aashleagh Lodge, where a new Inland Fisheries Ireland research laboratory was opened last autumn.

“There is huge potential for the community if we are successful; it would be a big boost to the area," said EDCG chair Martin Gavin.

A decision is expected on their application by the middle of this month.

The Mayo News has more on the story HERE.

#Angling - Ireland's first wild salmon of 2015 has been caught in Killarney, as The Irish Times reports.

Local man Jerry Looney landed the 10-pounder a little over half an hour into the opening of the Long Range stretch in the Killarney Lakes.

Even more remarkable is that the 80-year-old's catch is the first salmon to be reeled in since 2009 in the Kerry area.

And it was followed not long after by a 17lb 10oz specimen landed by gillie Brod Sullivan at Lough Currane.

Irish Times angling correspondent Derek Evans has more HERE.

#Angling - The Irish Times's angling correspondent Derek Evans reports from the recent Match the Hatch course at Courtlough, near Balbriggan in North Co Dublin.

The day-long programme is an introduction for angling enthusiasts to learn how to read the lay of the land, in order to pick the best flies for the right conditions.

Knowing the varied insect life in any fishery is key to understanding what species hatch when, and what fish will go for them - meaning fisherman can tailor their approach accordingly for the best results.

And with the little angling time they had available at the end of the days's sessions, "three cracking rainbows" fell for guide Jason O’Sullivan's damsel fly.

Another Match the Hatch course is scheduled for interested anglers on 1 March at Rathcon Fishery in Co Wicklow.

#Angling - Ireland took the gold medal at the Chatton Lakes Home International fly fishing competition in Northumberland to close out a successful 2014.

As The Irish Times reports, the Trout Angling Federation of Ireland Stillwater Bank Fly Fishing Team took on squads from England, Scotland and Wales at the prestigious fishery for the inaugural Nations Cup.

And Derek Evans writes that they got the edge on their opponents thanks in no small part to a scouting mission two weeks before the tournament.

#Angling - In addition to his comments on improvements in Letterkenny fisheries as previously reported on Afloat.ie, Minister of State Joe McHugh has also announced that 83 rivers will open for salmon angling nationwide in 2015.

“Fifty-five rivers will be fully open and this will provide opportunities for all to share this important natural resource on a sustainable basis," said the minister, who added that a further 28 will be open for angling on a 'catch & release' basis.

The total number of open fisheries is down on the 87 rivers opened for 2014, which comprised 57 fully open rivers and 30 catch-and-release fisheries.

Minister McHugh also discussed the further retention of the reduced licence fee for anglers to encourage tourism in the growing sector.

“In 2012 the cost of fishing licences was reduced in the prevailing economic climate and I have decided to maintain that price cut for 2015," he said. "I believe that lower costs will encourage sales of annual licences and continue to incentivise angling tourists to avail of the Ireland’s first-class angling product."

Minister McHugh received management advice in relation to 145 genetically individual wild salmon stocks in Ireland from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and this advice was also made available publicly as part of a public consultation process. Over 20 submissions were considered as part of the public consultation process.

Management advice was based on the scientific assessment of the current status of all stocks carried out by the independent Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon (SSCE). This committee comprises scientists from IFI, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), the Marine Institute, the Loughs Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI Northern Ireland), other State bodies and third-level institutions.

In all, the SSCE assessed 145 rivers and has advised that: 55 rivers may open as a surplus of fish has been identified in these rivers; 28 rivers are classified to open for catch-and-release angling; and that 62 rivers should be closed as they have no surplus of fish available for harvest.

#Angling - The 2015 tender process for Inland Fisheries Ireland's State fisheries is open till this coming Tuesday 30 December, with angling fisheries on rivers and catchments across seven districts open for bidding.

Full details of these fisheries, as well as the application form for submitting a tender or tenders, are available to download HERE.