This article is from page 31 of the 2007-04-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 31 JPG
A FISH which is threatened with extinction, could be saved by a new plan to increase its numbers in Lough DOyse
The humble Pollan could repay the favour by breeding in large enough numbers to make the lake more at- tractive to anglers.
The scientific co-ordinator of the study, Dr Fran Igoe, a marine bi- Ologist with the Shannon Regional
Fisheries board says a new scheme will try to solve why stocks of once plentiful Pollan in Lough Derg have declined.
If the Tipperary Leader Group car- rying out the research are successful, “it will hopefully restore the once ac- tive Pollan commercial fishery in the lough”, Dr Igoe said.
The fish species is found only in Ire- land’s five large lakes, and stocks in Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Lough Erne have seriously declined.
The situation has become so bad that a Local Area Species Action Plan has been drawn up by the Clare Biodiversity Forum.
Dr Igoe explained that the neces- sary steps include investigations into the possible impact of hydro-power, pollution and non-native organisms on fish numbers.
Eleven angling clubs which use the lakes and the Lough Derg Sub-Aqua club will be supporting the research.
“This is very significant as there is
no other animal except perhaps the Irish hare, that comes close to this kind of uniqueness when it comes to our wildlife heritage in Ireland’, said Dr Igoe.
Competition for food, the impact of water quality and a study to see where the fish spawn will all be part of the investigation.
Universities in Ireland and Canada as well as experts with the Irish Char Conservation group will be working with personnel involved in the study.