Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) stands accused of a policy climb-down over the protection of non-native species such as pike on Lough Corrib.

Last year, IFI admitted that fishing bye-laws that afford non-native predatory species equal protection to native salmon and trout, were ‘contrary to the aims of the Habitats Directive and fisheries legislation’.

But in a new draft policy document issued last week, IFI stops short of recommending that the bye-laws be repealed.

Instead it has published a plan that’s described as advocating a ‘mixed fishery’ model, contrary to the wishes of salmon and trout anglers in the west.

IFI published a 50-page draft plan last week called the ‘Long Term Management Plan for the Great Western Lakes’.

The organisation invited feedback from the public on the plan, and the consultation period is until September 20, the deadline for public submissions.

Already, however, the plan is causing disquiet among fishing organisations who are galvanising support against it.

Local angling groups want the Great Western Lakes, including Corrib, to be maintained as salmonid fisheries.

They claim this new draft plan keeps the current ‘unacceptable’ position, which protects predatory pike and coarse fish on the Corrib system, which is an SAC (Special Area of Conservation).

Anglers in Galway and Mayo want the pike and coarse byelaws repealed, so that removing pike and coarse fish from the Corrib is not a criminal act.

Campaigner Mike Donnellan, a member of Oughterard Anglers, urged people to make their opposition to the draft plan known through the public consultation process that has commenced.

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