Month: June 2014

Fissta asked Minister Coveney if he will leave no trace behind in his ten mega fish farm plan as his use of the word “sustainable” has a new and different meaning to what angler stakeholders and food buyers understand. Minister Coveney replied that “I am aware and acknowledge FISSTA’s viewpoint as representing the biggest sport in Ireland. We are looking at aquaculture development in a complete new context where coastal communities are enriched. In the past 5 years to 2013 there was no new licenses issued. Last year I approved 137 and this year up to 200 will be granted”. He did not add that they were shellfish and not salmon farm licenses.
FISSTA spoke to and lobbied the following Government Members today:
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD who assured us that no matter what new marine plans are implemented, the wild Atlantic salmon would be protected.

Ministers for wild salmon Pat Rabbite TD and Fergus O’Dowd along with Science minister Sean Sherlock all know what they will face if that wonderful resource called the wild Atlantic salmon are hammered by pollution from fish farming. A good opportunity to lobby even though a major talk keg point was the absence of our wild salmon and seatrout managers IFI from what was a very important day for the Irish marine.

Surely the fishery management system is badly broken If it takes 2 Garda patrol squads and 4 IFI fishery jeeps to observe law abiding anglers every time our members go salmon fishing on the Gweebarra.
Thanks to both Donegal politicians Thomas Pringle TD last week, and today Pearce Doherty TD calling on the IFI fishery staff to desist from their heavy handed tactics of confronting anglers at the river and allow time for the courts to resolve the case of the taking of our Gweebarra waters. It is now time for all other politicians to follow their lead and support the local angling structure that develop fisheries through our volunteer angling clubs.

DOHERTY CALLS FOR FISHING AUTHORITIES TO STEP BACK FROM CONFRONTATION
Published on June 16th, 2014

Pearse Doherty meets Charles Kennedy
Donegal TD Pearse Doherty has called on fishery bosses to engage new methods in an effort to end a long-running dispute with local anglers.

He was speaking after meeting Charles Kennedy, Chairperson of the Trout Angler??????s Federation of Ireland, in Leinster House in relation to the ongoing dispute regarding fishing rights in the Gweebarra river.

The Sinn F?????in TD for Donegal South West said ??????The dispute between the local Anglers and IFI has been long running now for 8 years and is currently before the High Court.

??????The approach of IFI officials in recent weeks has further divided rather than united the parties and, if ongoing, is likely to result in the escalation of the dispute in the coming weeks.

??????I am calling on the IFI to step back from the confrontational nature of their dealings with the local fishermen and engage in a different approach.

??????I am aware that offers of dialogue have been made by representatives of the local anglers and I am calling on the IFI to accept these offers and enter into meaningful dialogue in order to resolve this issue.

??????I intend to make contact with the CEO of IFI in order to discuss this matter in the near future in the hope that appropriate action can be taken to ensure that this dispute can be resolved.??????

FISHERY BOARD CHANGE POLICY OF HEAVY HANDED TACTICS AFTER WEEK OF CONTROVERSY ON THE GWEEBARRA
Following a peaceful Sunday morning spent by protesting anglers on the Gweebarra River in which a few salmon were caught and released, it appears that Inland Fisheries Ireland officers and staff are now taking the advice of TD’s and County Councillors to allow fishing to continue as normal until the Supreme court deliberates on the case. Despite a heavy presence of IFI staff in three jeeps and two Garda squad cars in attendance in which all anglers were being observed and recorded, there was no attempt to confront the anglers this week.
This weekend saw an increased number of anglers taking part in the protest to express their solidarity with the anglers who suffered injuries and harrasement last Sunday at the renowned Mayo pool which is one of the most popular of salmon pools for fishing. It was at this location where one angler suffered injuries from IFI and received hospitalisation for torn ligaments which left him unable to work for some time to come.
Last week at the same location an IFI jeep accompanied by a Garda patrol car arrived in the car park at 11.30am. Another Garda patrol car arrived some time later, as the fishery officers approached several anglers and asked for current angling licenses, which they all had in order and showed to the officers in compliance with the law. They were then asked for the ??????50 per day IFI permits of which no supporting DGAF or club angler had purchased as they explained that this issue was in legal dispute n the courts. The IFI staff exchanged comments with the anglers and proceeded to attempt to take their rods and equipment and in the process allegedly adopted physical abuse on the three anglers by twisting their arms and squeezing their wrists and to forcefully seize several rods, reels, landing nets and salmon which were legally tagged and in compliance with the fishery laws. The incident appeared to getout of control when at one point Garda members saw it necessary to intervene and to order the fishery officers to refrain from further force and to step back as one angler was nearly shoved into the river. This very heavy handed and disgraceful behaviour by our state fishery protection staff was unecessary as law abiding anglers normally cooperate with such staff on other fisheries.
Following a reports of last sunday’s incident there was a national outcry from websites and social media in which many expressed their outrage at such heavy handed treatment. On one facebook page alone there was 5,300 hits and comments within 24 hours of the news being posted. It was commented on the angling support ‘No state rod license in Ireland’ page that this was the worst state confrontation against anglers ever in this country. One contributoor to the facebook page stated ??????Even during the days of the very disruptive rod war of 1987-90 there was never such a serious physical confrontaiton.?????? The Executive Committee of the Donegal Game Anglers Association with the full support of a national federations TAFI and FISSTA representing over 60,000 anglers nationally, thanked all who attended today and for showing once again their restraint and their determination to continue to exercise their rights to fish more than ever and are looking forward to the next outing to fish our river again.
Issued by DGAF PRO Noel Carr, Teelin Rd Carrick, Co. Donegal. Tel 074 9730300 dgl1@indigo.ie