Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
215. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department will continue to validate the presence of invasive/non-native fish such as pike, roach and carp in the Corrib Catchment through conservation bye-laws considering his comments on 4 December 2025 regarding significant coarse fisheries within the catchment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72489/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have advised that coarse fish and pike have been present in the Lough Corrib catchment for many years. IFI regularly monitor fish populations in several waterbodies in the Lough Corrib Catchment to assess their composition, abundance, age structure and ecological status. Lough Corrib, along with six other large freshwater lakes in the west of Ireland are currently being managed preferentially as recreational salmonid fisheries and the information gathered through IFI surveys is used as an ecological indicator and to inform fishery management decisions. Coarse fish and pike stocks are managed at some locations.
The conservation bye-laws referred to in the question, which currently underpin the protection and management of coarse fish in Ireland, are currently under review. A public consultation process has recently closed and I look forward to the review process concluding in due course.
