Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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571. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Lough Corrib is a special area of conservation, yet Inland Fisheries Ireland has gillnets on this lake to remove pike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49230/14]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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572. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason Inland Fisheries Ireland has increased the size of a pike for the table from 50 cm to 85 cm on trout lakes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49236/14]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 572 together.

I am advised that following extensive consultation with both Trout and Pike angling interests, that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has introduced new Brown Trout and Pike policies and in line with these policies is proposing a change in relation to the size of pike which can be retained on the specific named managed Trout waters.

A small number of waters in the State are selectively managed as wild Brown Trout fisheries where management of the competing species takes place. Pike in these waters are actively managed by IFI and I understand that the proposal is to increase the size of a pike that can be retained from 50 cms to 85 cms. The rationale is that the tourist and domestic angling sector would benefit from the opportunity for anglers to retain one pike per day up to the new proposed size limit and generate a significant positive contribution to the local tourism economy.

Lough Corrib has been managed as a Trout fishery since the 1950’s and in that regard certain fish species are managed in order to maximize wild Brown Trout production and survival. The lake continues to be a managed Trout fishery in line with the IFI agreed Brown Trout and Pike policies adopted in 2014.