Fisheries Research and Development

Inland Fisheries Ireland is involved in  a broad range of fisheries research and monitoring activities including water chemistry, aquatic vegetation, coarse fish, pike, salmonids, “conservation” species, estuarine and marine fish. Many of the projects are applied fisheries management projects dealing with diverse pressing issues such as measuring the attainment of salmon conservation limits, management of invasive aquatic species and reporting on the conservation status of EU Habitats Directive designated species. Several projects are being delivered through strategic partnerships with other national agencies including the Marine Institute (MI), the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Office of Public Works (OPW), and also with some international agencies including the Environment Agency (EA), the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) and the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Council (EIFAC).

In addition to the Research and Development Division’s mandate to conduct applied research we are also tasked with the provision of advice to our parent Department, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. This role has increased significantly in recent years with advice offered on the management of most inland fresh water species and in relation to a range of fisheries related questions concerning the riparian corridor.