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The Fisheries Boards are the statutory bodies responsible for the conservation,
protection and development of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling
resources. The jurisdiction of The Western Regional Fisheries Board includes
all of the waters in the Corrib catchment , the Connemara and South Mayo
fisheries, and those of south Galway. The area extends 12 miles seawards
between Pidgeon Point near Westport and Hag's Head in Co. Clare.
Conservation and Protection
The Fisheries Board protects and conserves the Inland Fisheries by monitoring
fish movements, migration, fish escapement, spawning patterns and monitoring
water quality is an ongoing responsibility of the Board.
Enforcement of the fishery laws inland and at sea is a vital part of
the Board's work.
Angling
Recently it was estimated that angling is worth £78M to the Irish
National economy. Many of the country's prime angling waters are located
in Western Ireland, thus the regional spread on angling expenditure is
proportionally greater in the Western counties, notably Galway and Mayo.
Ireland is said to have 122,000 anglers, a large proportion of whom fish
in the Western Region.
The importance of the resource, which includes game angling, sea and
coarse angling, is not only recognised nationally but increasingly so
at European level. Traditionally, it was mostly English anglers who came
here but now Ireland's reputation as an angler's paradise is known world-wide.
Within Europe there remain only 13 major wild brown trout fisheries of
International importance. 12 are in Ireland, of which Loughs Corrib, Mask
and Carra are the most important. These are located in the Western Fisheries
Region. These fisheries are highly prolific due to the limestone substrate.
Fisheries Development, Research and provision of angling
services
The Western Regional Fisheries Board is fully committed to the development
of the resource to its full potential in a sustainable manner and to fully
maximise benefits for the local communities, involving:
- Research in to migratory patterns, stock levels etc.
- Stock management and enhancement.
- Fishery management.
- Development of numerous small fisheries throughout the region ie.
Moher, Kinlooey and Aille loughs plus many coarse angling waters over
several parts of the region.
- Operate record rod-caught salmon tagging scheme for the region.
- Operate record drift/draft netting tagging scheme at sea.
- Operate Creel Census returns from all fisheries.
- Operate salmon and sea trout hatcheries to enhance stocks where necessary.
- Co-operate with fisheries owners and other State agencies with research
and monitoring of sea lice affecting sea trout stocks.
- Co-operate with and assist angling clubs with advice and scientific
back-up on their local enhancement projects.
- Promote and market all forms of angling in the region, supplying angling
material to magazines and newspapers as well as attending with Bord
Failte angling marketing fairs abroad.
- Assist through angling development, the creation of jobs and bring
economic benefit to the local communities.
- Manage and supervise a number of FAS schemes and projects throughout
the Western Fisheries Region, including the provision of facilities
for disabled anglers.
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