The ban on angling imposed as part of the Government campaign to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease is to be lifted next week.
The Minister for the Marine & Natural Resources Mr Fahey said the ban on angling will be lifted from next Friday, March 23rd.
Mr Fahey said: "Angling may be resumed under guidelines which are being finalised by my Department in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation and the Fisheries Boards."
Under the new guidelines angling will be permitted where it does not involve access to land to which susceptible animals may have had access. Susceptible animals are cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and deer.
This will mean the recommencement of sea angling, river and lake angling from boats launched from piers, jetties and slipways to which certain animals have not had access; and angling from roads, car parks, purpose built angling facilities, bridges, towpaths and in other urban areas.
However, in accordance with the recommendations of the Expert Group, fishing activities involving entry onto agricultural land must continue to be avoided until further notice.
Fishing from river banks and other areas accessed through farmland or areas to which susceptible animals may have had access, will be actively discouraged, Mr Fahey said.
