THE pressure exerted by trout anglers from Westmeath and anglers from all over Ireland, following the insistence by Inland Fisheries Ireland that it was going ahead with plans to close fish farm operations, finally brought results on Friday last, 26 August, when it was announced by the Board of IFI that it had “agreed to defer its proposal indefinitely.”
The announcement by IFI came after a top level meeting on Thursday, between the IFI Board and a joint delegation from the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland and the National Anglers Representative Association. News of the back-down by IFI has been widely welcomed by local trout anglers, seriously alarmed at the drastic effects that ceasing trout production at Cullion Fish Farm and closing the IFI fish farm operations would have on Lough Owel, Lough Lene and a very large number of other trout lakes elsewhere.
The IFI statement in April last, of its decision to phase out and cease fish farm operations and trout production at Cullion Fish Farm, Mullingar and other fish farms, resulted in public meetings and protests, and particularly, after the IFI, despite being told by the new Minister Sean Kyne in late June, to go to consultation and to provide his Department with a report, indicated it was proceeding with the closure plans.
At two local meetings, held at Tullaghan Angling Centre, Lough Owel, in July and August attended by members of the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland and National Anglers’ Representative Association, the levels of total opposition from anglers became clear, with moves towards public “boat” protests outside Dáil Eireann and talk of of a nationwide ‘strike’ by anglers, and calls for the resignation of the IFI Board and CEO.
After a series of meetings between anglers representatives, local TDs and IFI officials over the past month, came last Friday’s (26 August) announcement by IFI, headed “Inland Fisheries Ireland announces agreement with Angling Federations on trout production.” It went on: The Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) met yesterday with a joint delegation from the National Anglers’ Representative Association and Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland to discuss IFI’s proposal to exit the production of trout for the restocking of angling lakes.
As a result of these discussions, the Board of IFI has agreed to defer its proposal indefinitely.
“In the discussions, the parties recognised that there are significant economic, environmental and biological issues surrounding the current production facilities which IFI needs to resolve. Inland Fisheries Ireland is committed to developing and seeking funding for a comprehensive strategy to meet current and future trout production needs, contingent on obtaining the significant investment required. The parties to the discussions agreed to continue to work closely together to deliver this strategy.”
The Board of IFI wishes to acknowledge and thank all those who have made submissions to the public consultation… This consultation process is now closed.”
WIDELY WELCOMED
News of the IFI decision last week was widely welcomed by trout anglers and their representatives, and also by local public representatives including Dáil members, Peter Burke, Robert Troy and Willie Penrose. Confirming that IFI had come to an agreement with the angling federations to continue stocking freshwater trout, including the facilities in Cullion and Roscrea, Deputy Peter Burke said that he and Cllr. Andrew Duncan had “fought tooth and nail” against the proposed closures for months. “I am glad to confirm that IFI will continue to stock from fish farms at Cullion and Roscrea, and have changed their position in relation to exiting the production of trout for restocking.
Deputy Burke said he had met with former Minister Joe McHugh and current Minister Seán Kyne to discuss these worrying developments and raised the issue in the Dáil, highlighting the negative effects of an exit by IFI. Minister Kyne had come to Westmeath and visited the Fish Farm and attended a public meeting, consulting active and very concerned anglers. Ireland had some of the best trout in the world, and IFI staff had worked hard for decades at Cullion, breeding and rearing resilient trout, greatly benefitting the local economy.
More investment was definitely needed in fish farming, he told Topic, and said he will be pursuing this aspect strongly at government level.
Deputy Willie Penrose said: “I’m glad that the decision has been made to review the IFI (Inland Fisheries Ireland) decision and I’m now hoping that they come to their senses in a definite way and realise the importance of this for a number of reasons, including the impact on tourism.”
While welcoming the decision, Deputy Penrose cautioned that major investment is now needed in order to provide a long-term solution.
“There is Capital funding of approximately €2.5m-€3m required to provide a state-of-the-art facility for the production of fish and that should be based at Cullion. It would be a very productive and worthwhile investment and pressure must be brought to bear on the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in this regard,” he remarked.
Cllr. Andrew Duncan said that what was being done made no sense, and he was happy that the serious pressure from anglers and from public representatives had brought about this outcome. He warned that they needed to keep up the pressure regarding Cullion, as there could be more efforts to close it. He commended the work of Deputy Burke and said his efforts had resulted in the decision being reversed.
Deputy Robert Troy, in welcoming the announcement, said it was an important reprieve, and the fishing representative bodies deserved credit. He said the issue of cuts to funding for the fish farm industry had now to be addressed, and the Government must reverse the cuts put in place. Otherwise it would arise again. In the past five years, funding nationally was cut by 30%. He would be asking the Minister to reinstate this funding as a matter of urgency, he said.
