Fisheries Development Programme for Waterways Ireland

Inland Fisheries Ireland is contracted by Waterways Ireland to provide fisheries and environmental management services in respect of the Royal Canal, Grand Canal, the Barrow Navigation and the Shannon-Erne Waterway. The programme reflects the statutory obligations of Waterways Ireland and its objective of providing a quality waterways habitat commensurate with its use by a wide diversity of user groups. It further recognises the fisheries management and environmental needs of these watercourses.

In addition, the programme pays due cognisance to the obligations imposed by the Water Framework Directive. A canal is identified in the WFD as an Artificial Water Body (AWB), which is defined in Article 1 of the Directive as ‘a body of water created by human activity’. In recognition of their navigational and recreational roles, AWBs must be assessed in terms of their ‘ecological potential’ as opposed to their ‘ecological status’, which applies to natural water bodies such as rivers and lakes.

Further Information

Dr Joe Caffrey (Senior Research Officer) or Paul McLoone (Research Officer)
Tel: +353 (0)1 884 2600