This article is from page 14 of the 2011-12-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
ANGLING tourism can only be properly kick-started in Clare if the Inland Fisheries Board spearheads an anti-poaching campaign in the county’s rivers and lakes that have been decimated of its fish stocks.
The December meeting of Clare County Council heard councillors from all parties back a motion from West Clare councillor Gabriel Keating (FG) calling on the Inland Fisheries Board to act.
“I have been told that Doonbeg River will not open until there is an increase in Salmon stocks,” said Cllr Keating.
He continued, “But the problem with the river has always been poaching. While you have anglers on the river, the opportunities for poaching are restricted. If anglers are not there, it is open season for poachers,” he added.
“Before the closure, anglers and bailiffs were on the same side of the fence. But now bailiffs are falling foul of anglers as they are threatening on-the-spot fines on any anglers they catch fishing for salmon.
“This naturally angers anglers as they feel there are doing far less damage than what is being done on a large scale by poachers.
“The ideal situation would be that anglers and bailiffs would work together,” he added.