21/07/2024
Only 0.1% of the fish in Lough Corrib are Salmon.
I have never been a fisherman but I do feel the draw of the water and the appeal of being at one with nature battling to win food and feed myself. It is akin I think to birdwatching many days out and perhaps little reward but when it comes, deeply satisfying to see that elusive bird or to catch the hiding trout. So for my birthday a few years ago I decided I would turn predator and hired a very friendly and competent boatman to take me fishing on Corrib a lake I have spent weeks and weeks out on counting breeding birds and searching for that rare black duck the “common” Scoter.
The day was bright and in dry in August and we sett off from a small quay at Oughterard me and my vegetarian friend on our mission. Being totally unskilled amatures we set to trailing a hooked line behind the boat. We hooked 5 perch and 2 trout. The fact that we hooked trout at all was due to the skill of the boatman knowing where to bring us.
The recent survey results from Lough Corrib reveal a deeply concerning trend: the shockingly low numbers of salmonids. Despite the lake's reputation as one of the premier game fisheries in the world, renowned for its vibrant brown trout fishery, the 2021 data paints a troubling picture. Brown trout, once abundant and central to the lake's acclaim, now constitute only 3.2% of the total catch, while salmon were recorded at a mere 0.1%. These figures are alarmingly low for such a prestigious fishery, where salmonids traditionally played a central role. The surveys also highlighted that roach and perch, particularly invasive roach, are now the dominant species, with perch alone making up 55.7% of the catch and roach 28.8%. This shift in species composition underscores the pressing challenges facing Lough Corrib, where invasive species have disrupted the balance of its aquatic ecosystem. The stark decline in salmonid numbers not only threatens the lake’s ecological integrity but also jeopardizes its esteemed status as a top game fishery. Immediate and effective conservation measures are crucial to address these issues and restore the health and balance of Lough Corrib's fish populations.
Inland fisheries Ireland appear not to be up to the job. Despite a conservation centred cooperate plan their website indicates a woeful 4km of river managed for fish in 2023. God help us if that is what our national body can do with 320 staff. The EPA stated in 2019 that we have a decade to save nature ….time is running out .
