Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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224. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the measures being taken to stop the proliferation of dace, an invasive species, in the River Barrow. [26750/15]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. I have been informed by IFI that from the first discovery of Dace in the tidal waters at St. Mullins, in 1992, the species had spread over 70km upstream, to near Vicarstown and upstream of the confluence of the Barrow Navigation and the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal by 2006. At present, the species is firmly established throughout the river and navigation and there are no practical measures that can be taken to control or eradicate this species where it is already present in abundance.

While Dace is a valuable angling species for many anglers in certain freshwaters, including the River Barrow it is acknowledged that the species can prove to be a nuisance to game anglers targeting brown trout and to a lesser extent salmon, in waters where it is present.

The presence of Dace in the Barrow system pose an increased risk of spread to interlinked waters and the primary approach of IFI in this regard is to prevent its spread outside of systems where it is already established, such as the Barrow.

IFI have conducted a number of surveys in recent years to monitor for the spread of Dace into the Grand Canal system. Potential locations through which Dace might potentially colonise the canal have been identified through analysis of GIS maps and through consultation with Waterways Ireland staff. Electrofishing operations have been conducted on all levels of the Grand Canal - Barrow Line between 2003 and 2015. To date, 16 Dace have been captured and removed at only one location, the most southerly section, in the Grand Canal-Barrow Line, the last detection being in 2010.

Under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations (2011), with regard to Dace, a licence is required, to breed, reproduce or release or allow or cause to disperse or escape from confinement, or for any person who has in his or her possession for sale, or for the purposes of breeding, reproduction or propagation, or offers or exposes for sale, transportation, distribution, introduction or release.