Illegal Pike Introduction into Oughterard Trout and Salmon Lakes.
20 October 2009
The Western Regional Fisheries Board is investigating the probable deliberate introduction of pike into several lakes on the Owenriff river system, near Oughterard, Co. Galway. Loughs Boffin and Agraffard, which are acidic lakes and never had pike, were recently found by anglers to have pike present, and the Western Regional Fisheries Board was advised. Following the Board’s own investigations, a significant number of juvenile pike were found, indicating that not only had pike been introduced but they had already successfully spawned. These lakes are a significant distance upstream of Lough Corrib, which has pike, but the system was protected from pike by a large impassable waterfall.
The Owenriff river system is also a Special Area of Conservation, and is one of the most important spawning and nursery catchments for trout and salmon in the Corrib system. The wild brown trout hatched in the streams above the lake grow for up to two years in the lakes and streams before descending to Lough Corrib to join the existing trout stocks. Unfortunately these lakes now have significant and rapidly expanding pike populations which have only juvenile trout on which to feed. Pike are a predatory species, which can have a major impact on stocks of trout and salmon, formerly the dominant species in these lakes. The illegal introduction of pike into these lakes is nothing short of environmental vandalism and will seriously impact on the ability of these lakes to produce large numbers of wild salmon and trout for Lough Corrib.
The Western Regional Fisheries Board has condemned the introduction, and considers any such stocking to be highly irresponsible, as well as illegal. Anyone caught transporting live fish and introducing fish to lakes is liable to prosecution. The Board and the fishery owners are now facing significant costs associated with restoring these lakes to their original status as required under the EU Water Framework Directive. The stock of fish in the lakes will be assessed over the coming months.
Anglers are advised that the movement of fish from one water body to another is both illegal and highly dangerous as can be seen from this instance where one of the better spawning rivers in the Corrib catchment has been compromised by the reckless activities of a minority.