Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Kyne, for taking this Topical Issue. I also wish to put on record my appreciation for his efforts in securing the future of Cullion fish farm in Mullingar. He attended a public meeting with me and Councillor Andrew Duncan on the matter and I am happy to note that the fish farm remains a key component of the local infrastructure that keeps our lakes in good condition for anglers.

I raise the issue of the failure to designate Lough Ennell as a wild brown trout fishery. The largest trout caught in Ireland, weighing 26 lb, was caught in Lough Ennell, which encompasses an area of 3,540 acres or 14.3 sq. km. Two thirds of its area is less than 25 ft deep and it has a pH of 7.5, which enables the production of large quantities of fish food. There has been no man-made intervention to the lake, which makes it a natural brown trout lake and a world leader in that respect. There are several brown trout lakes in the European Union but Lough Ennell is the jewel in the crown as it is not stocked by fish farms and is unique in terms of the replenishment of fish food and production of trout. Anglers have repeatedly noted the remarkable composition and colour of trout from Lough Ennell. Some are shaped like summer salmon, which is very unusual, and coloured like sea trout.

It is also noted that they are a hard fighting fish, which is part of their genetic make-up and is case specific to the lake. It is important to point out also that the water qualify in Lough Ennell has improved significantly, and excelled in recent years, culminating in huge numbers of anglers coming to the lake.

The critical concern to us in Westmeath is that if Lough Ennell is not included on its merits in this designation, it will be left off the map for future investment and there is no doubt that investment is required in this area. It is important to note that the lake has not been stocked in the past, which means it is authentic and ensures the quality of fish in the lake, which are very resilient and have their own unique traits. That attracts people to the lake.

Angling is a key component for our local economy. It keeps many towns and villages sustainable and the number of visitors who come here from around the world ensures the economy remains vibrant.

The Minister had to go through a public consultation process, which he has initiated in terms of a number of lakes, but one lake in particular stands out from the rest due to its specific natural components and the fact that those in the angling profession recognise the key components of Lough Ennell as a world leader in its field. I would appreciate it if the Minister could provide a mechanism or some hope that it would be included in the wild brown trout designation in the future because that is essential for investment in the area.

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