Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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485. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps Inland Fisheries Ireland is taking to enhance and protect trout fishing here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3304/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a significant record of protecting, developing and enhancing trout fishing in Ireland.This has recently been augmented by the launch of the National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD), which aims at improving the facilities and amenities for fishing and fishery habitats. Over €900,000 was recently awarded to projects for the improvement of habitat. A further €300,000 was awarded for brown trout specific angling access projects.

There are a significant number of staff employed primarily on the seven fisheries, Loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullen, Arrow and Sheelin, which are designated, in national policy, to be managed primarily as wild brown trout waters. Stock management is prioritised in line with the special designation of these lakes.  I have directed my officials to consider how this designation can be given statutory status as a matter of priority.

Warranted protection officers are based throughout the country and deploy planned and reactive patrols to ensure the protection of fish stocks and habitat.  Inland Fisheries Ireland operates a confidential 24 hour hotline to which anglers and members of the public can report incidents of poaching and pollution and other activity. The number is 1890 34 74 24.

IFI is also aware of one particular catchment where recent introductions of another species have led to potential threats to established wild trout stocks. In this regard, while management of predator species has been undertaken in recent years and continues, IFI has recently prepared a specific management plan for this catchment to augment protection of, and underpin the process of restoring, wild trout in the catchment. I will shortly announce the implementation of this specific plan and follow up with plans to manage stocks during this year in other trout waters in the near future.

During 2017 IFI ran the #cprsavesfish campaign which encourages anglers to voluntarily catch, photo and release fish caught. Information on this campaign is available at .

An IFI sponsorship scheme is available to support angling and trout clubs and federations have availed of it to support competitions and novice angler programmes. To encourage conservation, the sponsorship programme does not support events where the results/scoring system necessitates the killing of fish.  

I am assured by IFI that the Board is committed to developing a comprehensive strategy to meet current and future trout production needs, subject to securing any investment required for their fish farm operations. All stakeholders have agreed to continue to work closely together to deliver this strategy.

I am also developing further protection plans to be published in the near future to further protect wild brown trout fisheries.