WHALE-WATCHING, along with scuba diving and sea angling competitions, are among the activities to be encouraged by the South Western Regional Fisheries Board over the next five years, together with more traditional angling forms already strong in the region.
Now updating its five-year strategic plan for Cork and Kerry, the board - which governs from Kerry Head to Ballycotton, a 1,000km stretch of coastline - considers that "the most effective way to protect our fisheries environment in the long-term is to ensure that there are growing wealth-generating sectors depending on its protection", according to chief executive Aidan Barry.
Several environmental concerns remain and the board would like to see greater co-operation from local authorities and other agencies, he also says.
The board warns that the environment is continuing to deteriorate in Kerry and Cork. The way to tackle that, it says, is through management of river catchments with all stakeholders, from farmers to foresters, to anglers, involved.
In a strong environmental programme, the board is seeking a review of penalties for breaches of fisheries environmental legislation. Mr Barry says it is continuing to seek controls on the water that can be extracted from a river, with a prohibition on interference with a watercourse without permission.
Forestry and farming practices are also of concern, he adds.