In keeping with its policy of maintaining fish stocks in accordance with Government legislation, the ESB recently published its Fisheries Report for the outgoing year.
The theme of the report centres on conservation and details activities across its broad fisheries spectrum. In the absence of commercial fishing under ESB control during the year, energies were diverted instead towards the betterment of angling.
The River Shannon continued to be a main benefactor. Phase III of a salmon action play ensured 2,000 wild salmon would enter the waterfall catchment annually to spawn. The plan also increased awareness of the salmon population in defunct areas and sought to involve local groups in the administration of the programme.
In response to a major fish kill two years ago on the river Mul kear in Co Limerick, the ESB undertook to sponsor a postgraduate MSc project to monitor the recovery of invertebrate and fish fauna in the affected stretch. Today, the ecology of the river has returned to normal and salmon stocks are close to full recovery.
Two salmon hatcheries controlled by the ESB again proved their weight in gold. At Parteen on the Shannon, 1.7 million unfed fry and 151,000 smolts were planted upstream of Ardnacrusha and at Carrigadrohid in Co Cork; 0.2 million unfed fry and 90,300 smolts were released in the Lower River Lee.
A detailed study on brown trout stocks levels confirmed Lough Derg and Ree as dying, and dying fast. Water quality is cited as the main culprit and that dreaded word "eutrophication" responsible for the downward spiral over the past decade.
However, plans are afoot to carry out rehabilitation work on two feeder rivers and recent investments in local water-treatment schemes and agricultural pollution control are positive steps in resto ring these renowned fisheries.
At Pollaphouca reservoir near Blessington, Co Wicklow, the ESB funded improvements to car-parking and access facilities and anglers with disabilities were recipients of suitable angling stands.
Fisheries manager Mr Gerard Gough confirmed the ESB "as a major owner of inland fisheries, whose focus is to maintain and preserve migratory species under the terms of the Fisheries Act 1935".
Result of Dublin Pike Anglers (DPA) first winter league outing to the Suck last Sunday. 1, Padraig O'Flynn, 42 lb 15 oz; 2, Michael Ayres, 36 lb 13 oz; 3, Godfrey Donohue, 29 lb 1 oz. Heaviest fish: Paddy Mongey, 14 lb 8 oz. Twenty-three anglers accounted for a total of 350 lb. For details on future outings, contact DPA at http://homepage.tinet.ie-devo/ or email: patbyrne@tinet.ie
Tomorrow, Dun-ARi AC eighth Kingspan Annual Pike Competition on Lough Sillan, Shercock, Co Cavan. £2,000 prize money. Fishing 11 a.m.4 p.m., check-in at lake from 10 a.m. Entry fee: £12 + £3 pool. Contact Sharon Sheenan at 087-255 8653 for further details.
Friday, launch of Boyne Valley Fishery Brochure by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources in Ardboyne Hotel, Navan, Co Meath at 11.30 a.m.
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2.
Fax: 679 1881.