Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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545. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the objectives of the recently launched fish stock management plan for the Owenriff catchment; the way in which the objectives will be achieved; and the benefits for brown trout fishing on Lough Corrib. [7286/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are commencing fish stock management operations on the Owenriff catchment, near Oughterard, Co. Galway to protect and restore trout stocks which have been impacted by recent introductions of pike to the catchment.

The Owenriff catchment is one of the most important spawning and nursery tributaries of Lough Corrib, our most renowned wild trout fishery. Previous scientific studies have shown it contributed 15% of the wild trout found in Lough Corrib, and each year thousands of wild trout and salmon migrate upstream into the Owenriff to spawn. I am committed to protecting and rehabilitating the system and welcome IFI’s stock management Plan which I have asked to be implemented immediately.

Inland Fisheries Ireland will be commencing a focussed and intensive effort aimed at reducing the numbers of pike in the Owenriff catchment over the coming year. The project will reduce pike numbers to a level where they are not impacting significantly on salmonid stocks. It is expected that on going maintenance operations will be required in future years to help maintain the trout population.

In tandem with the stock management plan, Inland Fisheries Ireland is also preparing an Owenriff Fish Population Rehabilitation Plan, which aims to ensure trout stocks and habitat are restored and protected thereby providing the best opportunities for a successful trout population.  Details of this plan will be available shortly. 

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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546. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the efforts to manage pike in the western lakes, particularly Lough Corrib; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7287/18]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, 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.

In 2014, IFI developed policies on the management of Wild Brown Trout, Pike and Bass. These policies were agreed with the main Trout and Pike angling representative bodies and were scheduled to be reviewed in 2017. However, recognising the concerns of some stakeholders in relation to elements of the pike and wild brown trout policies, the Board of IFI decided to bring forward the review period for these policies and commence the process in 2016, focusing initially on the element of the management of pike in designated wild brown trout fisheries.

While the review is underway, stock management will continue in line with existing policy and IFI has now set out its 2018 Stock Management Plan for designated trout lakes. Details of this plan will be published in the coming days.

Stock Management has been undertaken for the conservation of wild brown trout in waters which are managed by IFI as wild brown trout fisheries. Such waters are identified in IFIs pike and trout management policies. The 2018 plan will again include operations on Loughs Corrib, Mask, Carra, Conn, Cullin, Arrow and Sheelin.  In addition, I have asked my officials to consider how the designation of these waters may be given statutory status.  

A separate management plan was put in place last week for the Owenriff system following the introduction of pike to those waters. IFI’s rehabilitation plan for that system, based on work they have been doing since Summer last year will be announced shortly. Previous scientific studies have shown the Owenriff contributed a significant portion of the wild trout found in Lough Corrib.