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THE Minister of State for Marine and Natural Resources, Conor Lenihan, heralded the establishment of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) last Thursday week as a “historic development in the way we protect, conserve and develop our inland fisheries resource”.

We need an organisation fit for purpose in the 21st century and capable of adopting to strategic issues, he said. In contrast to the previous situation with more than 150 board members, the new structure will comprise just nine. In line with Government policy for rationalisation of State bodies, IFI will replace the central and seven regional boards; the National Salmon Commission and eight fisheries co-operatives.