#Angling - Sixty fishing rods were among items taken in a break-in at an angling charity's storage facility in Co Down, as BBC News reports.

Angling First - which says it has taught fishing skills to 2,000 children from disadvantaged areas across Northern Ireland - discovered the theft on Wednesday morning.

The shipping container outside Dromore where the charity keeps its equipment was found forced open, and items worth more than £600 (€745) were stolen.

In a statement, the PSNI said that the burglary occurred some time between Sunday 2 and Wednesday 5 December.

The charity's Mark McGivern told BBC News: "It makes you feel sick, it's probably been someone who has come to our pond, but they won't deter me from continuing."

#ANGLING - The Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) annual Sponsorship Scheme for 2013 is now open for applications. 

There are some changes to the scheme for 2013, with biosecurity and catch and release conditions "safeguarding Ireland’s wonderful inland fisheries and sea angling resources". 

Prizes may be sponsored under the scheme, but must be fishing tackle or angling-related in order to support those providing a service to Ireland's estimated 500,000 anglers.

The scheme is open to federations, clubs, individuals, youth groups, commercial salmon sector, etc who in the past have gained sponsorship for competitions, angling lessons, heritage projects and international, national and local events, all of which promote some or all of the following: inland fisheries, recreational angling and conservation.

Minister Fergus O'Dowd welcomed the scheme, saying: “Angling, and Ireland’s wonderful fisheries are there for all to enjoy. IFI, by supporting such activity is empowering individuals and organisations to boost their local economies, teach all ages and abilities to fish, have a hobby for life, and helping protect and sustain our fisheries resource into the future.”

Full details of the scheme are available on the IFI website and the closing date for receipt of applications is 15 January 2013.

Meanwhile, Minister O'Dowd has also announced the opening of the 2012-13 Salmon Conservation Fund Contributors Scheme, which has an initial allocation of €200,000 available for projects which help in the conservation of wild Atlantic salmon. 

Applications are invited from clubs, fishery owners, individuals and commercial salmon fishermen who have contributed to the fund by 15 March 2013.

According to IFI, the scheme - which was run on a pilot basis for the previous two years - has been a success to date, with projects from all over Ireland awarded funding. 

Applicants work with IFI to agree projects and many have been successful in securing additional LEADER funding.

The minister commented: “I never cease to be impressed by the work enthusiastic, passionate anglers and individuals can get done, ensuring that our natural resource is conserved and protected for future generations. 

"The long term effect will ensure biodiversity and improved stocks of salmon from which Ireland can derive economic benefit through recreational angling, and commercial exploitation in years to come.”

Details of the scheme can be downloaded from the IFI website HERE.

#FISHFARM - Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is set to hold a public tender process for the development of the proposed deep sea fish farm in Galway Bay, according to The Irish Times.

Financiers around the world have expressed interest in the 500-hectare organic salmon farm to be located off Inis Oirr in the Aran Islands, though BIM said it was not at liberty to disclose who they are.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the proposed fish farm would be the largest of its kind in Europe, set to double the State's production of organic salmon.

BIM says it is already receiving inquiries for jobs from emigrants wishing to return home.

However the scheme has faced opposition from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and local anglers, who cite the potential threat to wild salmon numbers in the area.

IFI recently issued a statement regarding its submission on the project's Environmental Impact Statement, raising concerns about the scale of the development and the impact of sea lice - infestations of which are often concentrated by aquaculture.

The public consultation that began in mid-October is scheduled to conclude next Wednesday 12 December.

#ON THE TV - Tonight's episode of Ear to the Ground on RTÉ One will feature a report on bass angling in Ireland, and the commercial fishing sector's efforts to re-open bass fisheries.

Among those interviewed for the feature were Dr Ed Fahy, who gave a talk at the recent Hook Bass Angling Festival discussing the threat to Ireland's sea bass should the fishery be opened to commercial interests, and argueing the case for bass angling tourism as a greater boon for the economy.

Ear to the Ground is broadcast tonight at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.

#ANGLING - The Ireland Angling Show will be back at the National Show Centre in Swords for its 14th year on the weekend of 16-17 February 2013, bringing a host of big names to the capital to share their fishing knowledge.

Special guest for 2013 is sea angling expert and freelance angling journalist Mike Thrussell. No stranger to Irish waters, Mike will be sharing his knowledge and skill with demos and workshops over the weekend.

Bob Nudd MBE, another regular visitor to Ireland, will be part of the show team for 2013. Bob is well known as being one of the UK’s greatest anglers, with an extensive list of championship titles behind him. He's also a familiar face on TV, with years of presenting on Discovery Shed.

Joining them is Henry Gilbey, a fishing photographer, writer, TV presenter and consultant by trade - but at heart he’s an out-and-out fishing junkie with a very serious obsession with saltwater fishing in Ireland. Henry writes and photographs for fishing magazine all around the world, has presented four fishing TV series for Discovery and has just seen the launch of his third fishing book.

Returning for a third year will be the ever-popular Hywel Morgan and his talented daughters Yasmin and Tanya. Hywel is a world fly casting champion and has fished competitively the world over, winning numerous titles. Hywel also a has an impressive background in TV fishing shows.

Professional guide, fly casting instructor and angling writer Paddy McDonnell will be giving some talks at the show on fly fishing for salmon. The mystique that is sometimes associated with fly fishing for salmon can be daunting, especially for beginners, so this format will cater for anglers of all levels of experience.  

A host of well-known angling experts will also be available with demos and presentations on every aspect of angling, whether sea, game or coarse.

Always a central feature at the Ireland Angling Show is the interactive family area, expertly managed by the very knowledgable Dublin Angling Initiative and their dedicated team.

Children of all ages and experience can learn everything they need to know to take up fishing, such as learning how to set up a fishing rod, tie a fishing knot and put bait on a hook. Many of Ireland’s most experienced and well known anglers will be present to give freely of their time, knowledge and expertise.

And as ever there will be a huge selection of tackle and trade stands offering products to suit every budget.

Organisers Mara Media have also announced that the show will coincide with the Irish Specimen Fish Committee Awards Day.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the awards will be held on Saturday 16 February 2013 at the Bewley's Airport Hotel. There will be a free shuttle bus running between the hotel and the angling show, as well as special room rates for anglers travelling to either event.

For more information and how to book your tickets visit www.irelandanglingexpo.ie.

#GALWAY FISH FARM - The board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has issued a statement on the proposed Aran Islands deep sea salmon farm in Galway Bay, which has been the source of some controversy in recent weeks.

The board said it agrees with the recent statement by Minister Fergus O’Dowd on offshore salmon farming, and that it welcomes the development of Ireland’s aquaculture sector "once any development complies with Ireland’s obligations under relevant EU environmental legislation, particularly the Habitats Directive, and does not adversely affect salmon and sea trout stocks."

In addition, the IFI board said it has made a submission on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for the proposed offshore salmon farm as part of the public consultation process, which is available on the IFI website.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the public consultation period began last month for the 500-hectare organic fish farm to be located off Inis Oirr. BIM has applied for a deep sea salmon farming licence at the site, which would be one of the largest of its kind in Europe. If approved, the operation could more than double Ireland's current farmed salmon production rate.

The IFI board's statement notes: "In the submission, concerns were raised in relation to the location and scale of the proposed salmon farm and how its development and operation could impact on wild salmon and sea trout stocks and their habitat.

"These concerns are based on scientific reports by respected authors and knowledge of the impact of existing fish farms on salmon and sea trout populations off the west coast of Ireland."

The submission also highlights "recent peer reviewed international scientific literature on the impacts of sea lice on salmonids" which poses a significant threat to wild salmon in Irish waters, as reported on Afloat.ie.

The board said it does not believe "that the corpus of peer reviewed international scientific literature which recognises the negative impacts of sea lice on salmonids have been adequately dealt with in the EIS".

While welcoming "any sustainable initiative which will provide jobs in rural coastal communities", the IFI board said it questions the figure of 500 jobs it's been reported the 15,000-tonne fish farm project would create, making comparison to a new 2,000-tonne aquaculture scheme in Scotland that's expected to create just four full-time positions.

The board members say they "have serious concerns that whatever the number of jobs created by the current proposal, they will be more than offset by the associated loss of jobs in the recreational angling and tourism sectors" if the scheme results in any negative effects on those areas.

"Ireland's reputation as a pristine wild fishery destination must be safeguarded," they added, noting that proposals for two further offshore salmon farms in Mayo and Donegal "are premature given that significant issues over the current proposal have not yet been resolved.

"No further applications should be progressed until all stakeholders are satisfied that the current proposal is sustainable and has no adverse impact on wild salmon and sea trout stocks."

Inland Fisheries Ireland is the State agency charged with the conservation, protection, development management and promotion of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resource.

#ANGLING - Bitterly cold weather and some hungry marine mammals kept the bass away from the inaugural Hook Bass Angling Festival in Wexford last weekend, as The Irish Times reports.

The angling went on regardless, however, with Mark Baker from Co Meath hooking a 1.5kg 'schoolie' of a flounder to take top prize of a five-day holiday at Grangecourt Holiday Homs and a day's fishing with Jim Foley.

All taking part enjoyed the weekend despite the absence of the titular fish, and promised to return next year - for which the dos and don'ts will be ironed out, according to Cathy Howlin of Hook Tourism.

Meanwhile, the weekend also featured an evening talk by Dr Ed Fahy who discussed the threat to Ireland's sea bass should the fishery be opened to commercial interests, and argued the case for bass angling tourism as a greater boon for the economy.

#ANGLING - Irish Times angling correspondent Derek Evans pays tribute to Des Chew of the Dublin Angling Initiative for his work in bringing "the world of angling to thousands of young people who otherwise would be oblivious of Ireland’s rich angling resource".

It's been a particularly busy 2012 for Chew too, writes Evans, overseeing a series of three-day introductory angling courses that have enrolled more than 300 teenagers from around Dublin to date.

And some 60 of them were expected to test their mettle at the annual DAI trout fishing competition in Aughrim, Co Wicklow at the weekend.

The Irish Times has more on the story HERE.

#ANGLING - Ireland's shore angling team have taken the bronze medal at the 2012 World Shore Angling Championship held at Veere in the Netherlands.

Brian Cooke of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers (IFSA) reports that the fishing was very tough over the week, with anglers casting into a shipping channel that contained tackle grabbing ledges.

The predominant species were dabs to 30cm, whiting, pouting and some lovely soles, he says, noting that the weather was very changeable, and gales combined with big tides to test the resolve of the competitors. Most fish were taken at distance and zones were won with 15-25 fish.

The Irish team improved their position each day, finishing seventh on day 1 and moving up to fifth and fourth on succeeding days.

Coming into the final session, the Irish needed to close a four-point gap on the Italian team in third, which Cooke describes as "a massive gap to overturn in this event given the quality of the opposition".

But the Irish team pulled it off, says Cooke, "using all their experience and skills to leapfrog the Italians and claim another World Championship medal for an Irish Shore team.

"The qualification pool system has certainly proved a success, this medal adding to the gold won by Ireland in South Africa in 2010," he adds.

Cooke congratulated team manager Tom Lillis and the six-man squad: Martin Howlin, Joe Duggan, John O’ Brien, Derek Kenrick, Eugene Farrelly and Kieran Begadon.

#ANGLING - Minister of State Paul Kehoe was on hand at the famous Hook Lighthouse recently to launch the first Hook Bass Angling Festival, which takes places over three days from 26-28 October.

The contest will be held on a catch-and-release basis and comprises various locations on the Hook Peninsula, situated on the amazing southwest Wexford coast, where you can find a beach a day for a fortnight - perfect for the festival.

First prize is a weekend's accommodation at Grangecourt Holiday Cottages in Fethard-On-Sea that sleeps up to five people, plus a day trip fishing for two with Wild Swan, Mermaid Angling, Arthurstown. Prizes will also be awarded for second and third place, and for the longest bass.

Aside from the angling action, the Friday and Saturday evening will see talks from Billy Colfer and Dr Ed Fahy about the history of the area and bass fishing respectively. These will take place at 7pm each evening in Neville’s Bar and Restaurant, which will also be serving a special anglers menu - and will host the prize-giving ceremony on the Sunday evening.

The entry fee for anglers is €75 for the three days days or €25 per day. You can enter online via www.hooktourism.com.

Families are more than welcome, as the Hook Peninsula has many historic sites to see and activities to do, especially for Hallowe'en, such as the 'Ghostly Guided Tours' of Hook Lighthouse. For more information visit www.hooktourism.com.