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Angling latest news

This page provides the latest angling news. You can find out about fishing events, competitions, changes in byelaws and any other recent changes to the Public Angling Estate.

Access to Garvary - Lower lough Erne

Negotiations are underway to have obstructions to access removed at Garvary, Lower Lough Erne so that full access to facilities, including the disabled hoist, can be restored as soon as possible.

Salmon conservation

A ‘catch and release only’ policy for any salmon caught in waters in the Public Angling Estate (PAE) has been introduced by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). For more information, visit the page below.

Increase in fish stocking during 2011

The level of stocking of the Public Angling Estate (PAE) for the 2011 angling season was eight per cent more than in 2010. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure stocked waters with an additional 11,000 fish. This was largely a result of the good growing conditions at Movanagher Fish Farm during the summer.

Temporary reservoir closures

Works previously scheduled by Northern Ireland Water requiring the closure of a number of fisheries have now been postponed until further notice. The reservoirs listed below will not now be affected by closure during the 2012 Season and will remain open as Public Angling Estate fisheries:

  • Lower South Woodburn
  • Upper South Woodburn
  • North Woodburn
  • Copeland
  • Lough Mourne
  • Portavoe
  • Marshallstown

Anglers should note that water levels at Middle South Woodburn have already been lowered and this fishery must remain closed for health and safety reasons.

High alert after invasive plant species found in River Lagan

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency is asking River Lagan users to be on the look out for a highly invasive plant species.

One of Ireland’s most unwanted species Floating Pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) was discovered in the River Lagan.

Floating Pennywort is a highly invasive aquatic plant that could potentially establish in the slower moving margins and slower flowing ditches which flow into the River Lagan. It is capable of growing at a rate of 20 centimetres a day enabling it to quickly take over the habitat in which it occurs.

Keep a look out

It is important that users of the River Lagan keep a look out for this species and inform authorities of where they have seen it so that it can be removed.

Floating Pennywort, a freshwater invasive aquatic plant, is native to North America. It was first brought into Ireland as a plant for tropical aquariums and ponds, but it has since escaped into the wild at a limited number of locations in Northern Ireland. Once established it is capable of quickly forming thick floating mats across the waters surface.

Floating Pennywort resembles a larger, more robust, version of the native Irish Marsh Pennywort. The leaves are kidney-shaped of a size typically two to eight centimetres in diameter with a distinctive ‘v’ indentation into the centre of the leaf being the main distinguishing feature from the native Irish Marsh Pennywort.

It can form thick mats across a water body's surface, effectively blocking out any light to native vegetation below. It also increases the risk of flooding and can obstruct recreational activities such as fishing and canoeing.

Floating Pennywort is capable of growing at a rate of 20 centimetres a day enabling it to quickly take over the habitat in which it occurs.

Report invasive species – Check, Clean, Dry

Reports of locations of Floating Pennywort and other Invasive Species locations can be made through the ‘Alien Watch’ facility of the Invasive Species in Ireland website.

Further information on invasive species can be found at the Invasive Species Ireland website which can be viewed through the link below.

Details of the current Check, Clean, Dry campaign can be found through the website link above. This campaign, aimed at water users, advises anglers and others who use rivers and waterways for recreation on how they can help prevent spreading the effects of harful invasive species.