Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question.

On 4 July Inland Fisheries Ireland, IFI, published the timetable for the review of the national pike and brown trout policies. These policies deal with the established practice of controlling pike in waters which are designated as primary wild brown trout fisheries and where the principal predator, pike, is managed to optimise wild brown trout stocks for anglers.

Following the appointment of an internal IFI policy review group later this month, the review process will commence with a scoping consultation which will be open to all parties. As part of the policy development process, fish stock management methodologies, including gill netting and electrofishing, will be carefully reviewed. IFI will have regard to scientific advice and best practice internationally. It is working to ensure the completion of this process in as consultative a way as possible which will ensure all interested parties can have an input into policy formulation. It hopes to receive the agreed views of angler stakeholder groups, domestic and tourist anglers, tourism providers and the general public.

No decision has been taken on the cessation or otherwise of pike management operations in designated trout waters for 2017. It is expected that the updated pike and trout policy documents will be available in July 2017.

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