Poist pholasaí
Inland Fisheries
Ó An Roinn Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Ó An Roinn Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Ireland has over 77,000 kilometres of freshwater rivers and streams and a quarter of a million hectares of lakes, as well as sea-angling resources within the national 12 nautical mile limit. Recreational angling has been estimated to contribute over €800 million to Ireland’s rural and regional economy.
Ireland's inland fishery policy ensures resources are sustainably managed and utilised. These policies focus on best management practices and rational exploitation of key species, whether by angling, or commercially, based on national and international scientific advice and on peer reviewed research.
Recent independent Appropriate Assessment/Screening Reports undertaken for Inland Fisheries matters in line with EU Directives are available on the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications website
Regulation of the inland fisheries sector is essential to enhance and develop the resource and maximise the economic and social return from the sector. Acts and Statutory Instruments relating to inland fisheries can be found at the Irish Statute Book website.
Bye-laws relating to inland fisheries are available here.
Relevant bye-laws are also available on the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) website.
Update on Draft Designated Salmonid Waters Bye-Law
The draft bye-law was developed in good faith as a carefully calibrated measure that would deliver on the Programme for Government commitment. However, based on the feedback received, expressing a broad range of diverse views, and also on the views received from consultation with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) the bye-law has been withdrawn in favour of delivering a long term policy and management plan, working closely with IFI and with its support based on robust scientific data.
The Minister is very conscious of the importance of these lakes which are among a number of waters that are topographically distinct in relation to salmonid habitat. He is also aware of the threat to these waters from a range of factors such as infrastructural developments, intensive agricultural practices, water quality, climate change, invasive organisms and degraded habitats due to arterial drainage.
The Department wishes to thank all the stakeholders who made submissions to the public consultation on the draft bye-law. The consultation closed on 20 August 2021.
The way in which fisheries are managed is specific to each fish species or group of species.
Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme
The Scheme is provided for in law by annual regulations which provide for the quotas of salmon and sea trout that can be harvested by both rod and line and by commercial fishing from the rivers specified in Schedule Two of the regulations.
You need a licence in order to fish for salmon and sea trout either for recreational or commercial purposes.
Licences for the Foyle and Carlingford areas can be bought on the Loughs Agency’s elicensing site.
The Department of the Environment, Climate Action and Communications (DECC) and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) are responsible for authorising the fishing equipment (dredges) in wild oyster fisheries.
You can apply to IFI for an oyster dredge licence.
Vessels engaged in oyster fishing must be licenced and registered with the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine.
The government aims to ensure the effective protection, conservation and sustainable development of inland fish stocks and habitats; mainly through its two agencies – Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Loughs Agency.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is responsible for the day to day management of our inland fisheries resource, which includes the protection, management, conservation and improvement of inland fisheries including sea angling. IFI enforces fisheries legislation, sets conservation limits for salmon and sea trout fisheries and issues fishing licences and permits. It is also responsible for fisheries and habitat development and for providing scientific research and management advice to the Minister for the Environment, Climate Action and Communications.
The Loughs Agency is a North-South body which aims to provide effective management, conservation, promotion and development of the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. It operates under the North South Ministerial Council and the co-sponsorship of DECC and the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland).
It was set up under the Good Friday Agreement and its functions are set out in the North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (NI) Order 1999, the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952 ( as amended ).
The National Strategy for Angling Development (NSAD) was launched in 2016 and is the first comprehensive national framework for the development of Ireland’s angling resource.
The Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund is used to rehabilitate, protect and conserve Salmon and Sea Trout and their habitats. It is funded using 50% of licence fees (angling and commercial) for investment in projects to conserve, rehabilitate and protect these species and their habitat.
The Midland Fisheries Fund is a similar initiative funded by 50% of the angling permit fees collected to support development projects on these fisheries.
More information on licences and angling in Ireland can be found on the IFI website. The Loughs Agency manages angling in the Foyle and Carlingford areas.
The Angling Consultative Council of Ireland is comprised of angling representative bodies interested in contributing to the sport of angling and supporting cooperation across its component disciplines.