CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY

FISSTA CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY – APRIL 2001

At our April Executive meeting our members failed to accept the asurances of the CFB that no waters would be taken from any FISSTA affiliate under the new CM proposals. Sadly, their worst fears were confirmed when Duchas gave notice to quit to one affiliate in Kerry where the mother of all CM models is being attempted. While the Minister continues to pour another £2m. into the fund this year it appears it is being used to take out the very club system that has served us so well and that we all have worked so hard to build up over many years.

Many salmon and trout anglers agree that this is a water quality and habitat issue. FISSTA concerns are shared by many angler bodies and recognise the inherent danger in such CM group composition as proposed at present. Anglers have had to fight long and hard to prevent many fisheries and stocks from becoming polluted down through the years. They have not been afraid to highlight industrial abuse to our environment at the risk of being labelled anti – jobs or cranks. Anglers take the credit for recording many successful prosecutions and holding the line in the fight against blatant pollution. The composition of the CM group repeats the RFB model by nominating a majority of non angling or conservation minded people to their boards. Anglers will be the sole group that will not be motivated by commercial interests on the fishery yet the set up will only allow a minority of angling interests to be represented on the board. This is why the angler must have the veto if they are to participate if the fish stocks and water quality are to be improved.

The national strategy objective of Catchment Management as outlined in the CFB discussion document is to achieve consensus among all stakeholders. But as all anglers know consensus has polluted waters and killed too many salmon already. We must recover local angling control of our waters whether we have the leases or not. It is called community and voluntary conservation and while all preach it, only anglers practise it.

The message and policy is simple – obtain security of tenure or vetos on CM decisions and the full cooperation of anglers will be forthcoming. Because CM committees will perform an advisory role to the managers and beneficial owners i.e. clubs and suggestions can be implemented if deemed worthwhile. So before we discuss any CM programme every FISSTA club must have announced satisfaction of a secure workable lease for a committed period (or in the case where no title is possible an angling veto on CM plans) suitable to their development plan already agreed with the cfb/landlord/owners.

That the “security of tenure” or “club veto” issue be resolved by the CFB/DOMNR/Duchas or any other state body for all FISSTA affiliates before the Catchment Management Programme is considered.