Bye-law proposed prohibiting angling for Arctic Char

INLAND Fisheries Ireland has launched a public consultation on the proposed introduction of a conservation bye-law, prohibiting angling for Arctic Char.

The public consultation opened on Thursday and closes on Tuesday, November 16, at 5 p.m.

One of the last remaining Irish populations of Arctic char is found in a small lake in Mayo's Nephin Beg mountains.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is seeking submissions from interested parties in relation to the proposed introduction of a conservation bye-law prohibiting angling for killing or retention of Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus) from any waters of the State.

All submissions must be marked ‘Public consultation – Proposed prohibition of angling for Arctic Char’ and they can either be emailed to ArcticChar@fisheriesireland.ie or posted to Inland Fisheries Ireland, Station Road, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, F94 WV76.

All valid submissions will be published on the Inland Fisheries Ireland website.

The Arctic Char is a glacial relict fish species, native to Ireland, which is currently classified in the Irish Red Data Book as vulnerable due to a range of anthropogenic and environmental pressures such as water abstraction, eutrophication, climate change and introduction of non-native fish species.