New Bye-laws in Eastern River Basin District: Lough Muckno, Lough Lene, River Vartry

New Bye-laws in Eastern River Basin District: Lough Muckno, Lough Lene, River Vartry

Three angling Bye-laws have been introduced in the Eastern River Basin District. Minister of State with responsibility for Inland Fisheries, Sean Kyne, introduced these Bye-laws on 1st October 2017.

On Lough Muckno, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, ‘Conservation of Coarse Fish and Pike Dundalk District (Lough Muckno) Bye-law no. 950, 2017’ has been introduced. The Bye-law provides for catch and release for all coarse fish and pike. Anglers must use keepnets to hold any coarse fish or pike and all fish are to be subsequently released. This applies to Lough Muckno and includes Gas Lake including the waters up to Derrygreevy Bridge, tributary up to Frankfort Bridge, County Water up to Wallace’s bridge and the Clarebane River up to Clarebane Bridge.

‘Catch and Release’ angling refers to the method of carefully handling any fish caught and immediately returning the fish alive to the water.

Photo: Minister Kyne with the Inland Fisheries Ireland team at the recent Ploughing Championships

On Lough Lene in Collinstown, Co. Westmeath, the ‘Annual close season Bye-law no. 322, 2017’ has been introduced.  This new Bye-law has extended the open season until 12th October. Anglers fishing for brown trout or rainbow trout can now fish from 1st March until 12th October.

On the River Vartry in Co. Wicklow, the ‘River Vartry System (Conservation Bag Limit), Bye-law no. 952, 2017’ has been introduced.  An angler is now permitted to take one sea trout (40cms or less) per day from the river during the open season (which is 1st March – 30th September). The River Vartry is closed for fishing for salmon and sea trout over 40cms.

Brian Beckett, Director, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Dublin said: ‘These new Bye-laws are designed to protect and conserve a range of fish species while supporting important angling amenity activities within the Eastern River Basin District. These fish populations are valuable from a number of perspectives including biological diversity and angling amenity and Inland Fisheries Ireland hope that these measures serve to reinforce the importance of protecting and conserving all our fisheries in the future.’

Anglers are requested to familiarise themselves the details of the new Bye-laws which can be found on www.fisheriesireland.ie.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the general public to report incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.

ENDS

Contact: Paul O’Mahony

Communications Manager, Inland Fisheries Ireland

Tel: +353 (1) 884 2675

Notes to Editors

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. For more information visit: www.fisheriesireland.ie.