PRESS STATEMENT
on behalf of
Save our Western Lakes Comittee

However, all is not going to plan with regard to this aspect of the Western Lakes Development Programme.According to the WRFB's own published data, concerning trout and pike numbers caught in gill nets to date - there is approximately 1 trout caught in the gill nets for each pike taken

Also, more worrying is the fact that the size of pike taken is very small as the Management of the WRFB by their own admission have always been most emphatic when stating that small pike do not prey on trout stocks. as pike of 16 ' (40cms) in length or less do not eat other fish as part of their dietary habits!

So why then do the WRFB insist on placing gill nets around areas of Loughs Corrib and Mask with their attendant wasteful use of scarce EU funds and Irish Taxpayers monies? This action not only serves to capture and cull small non threathening pike, but more importantly devastates the wild brown trout population at this crucial time of year when trout are bulging with eggs and in the middle of their spawning season.

During the past four weeks, the WRFB have been quick to point out in a number of press releases that "care will be taken to avoid areas of brown trout activity at this time, of the year."

This is absolute nonsense and clearly not the truth. The accompanying photos taken on Wednesday 2 December 1998 clearly show a WRFB netting crew attending a gill net which has been placed across the mouth of the Gleanntreag River on Upper Mask - a very important spawning stream for the Lough Mask trout population. The net stretches for approximately 200 metres, and is very close to the mouth of the River as can be seen from the photo. When the two WRFB fishery workers lifted this net on the day in question, six trout were ensnared in the meshes. There were no, pike present in the net. One trout weighing approx. 4.5 lbs was stone dead and put in the boat. Of the remaining five trout, all were thrown up in the air as though worthless and returned to the Lake in this thoughtless, uncaring manner. (see photos). Of the five trout returned, two were observed to be grossly injured and were most unlikely to survive. All six trout had to be cut free from the gill net by knife. (see photo of one of these typically ensnared trout in this gill net.) The previous day, 1 December 1998, the gill nets in the same area yielded nine trout and six small pike - a capture ratio of 15 trout to 6 pike e.g. 2.5 trout for every one pike taken .

These figures translate into less than three fish surviving out of every one, hundred fish taken in gill nets, regardless of whether they are trout, salmon or pike. Michael Kennedy, Chief Officer of the WRFB in Galway has stated on record that "gill nets were essentially fishing engines designed to capture fish for the purpose of killing them."

In Autumn 1997, the WRFB published some shocking statistics concerning their pike netting activities carried out during Spring 1997. Out of a total of 2080 pike caught in gill nets on Upper Corrib and Lough Mask, only 41 pike were transferred to other waters during this three month slaughter. These figures represent a 97.5% "success rate" in the killing of netted fish. It is important to emphasise the fact that the WRFIB had given written assurances to the Minister of the Marine, Angling Groups and other interested parties that all pike under 90 cms (35.5 inches) in length would be transferred alive to other lakes and all those pike of 90 cms or larger would be returned to the Lake. This undertaking was given in order to cater for the large body of overseas as well domestic anglers who are attracted to this region for the world renowned specimen pike.

These stark and indisputable facts should serve as a never to be repeated lesson. Certainly, from all the available scientific body of evidence from Ireland, Britain, the rest of Europe and North America - all fish, be they trout, salmon or pike, are virtually doomed to death or are so badly damaged with torn fins, net burns to the skin etc. that the use of gill nets as afishery management tool is now clearly redundant and must be consigned to the bonfire. They have no place in conserving and enhancing our already pressured stocks of trout - declining in number due to the very evident real problems of destruction of spawning / nursery streams, water pollution and arterial drainage. The absence of any educational policy by those in authority at Fishery Management level for a "Catch and Release " ethos to be adopted and encouraged by both domestic and visiting trout fishermen just serves as the final nail in the coffin for these beleaguered Lakes.

A swift and dramatic reversal of the above will lay the foundations for securing the future of the Great Western Lakes as healthy balanced fisheries. 

If you are opposed to the use of gill nets on these wild, wonderful lakes and indeed all Irish trout and salmon fisheries, please complete the coupon, print  (*) it out and return it to:

SAVE OUR WESTERN LAKES
PO BOX 0002
CONG POST OFFICE
CLAREMORRIS,
COMAYO

(* or submit my e-mail

and we will ensure that we bring it to the attention of the MINISTER FOR THE MARINE,
Dr Michael Woods,TD and THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM, SPORT AND RECREATION, Dr Jim McDaid TD on your behalf, and on behalf of all concerned and conservation minded people.