ESB FISHERIES CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT (YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 2020) AA report onon ESB ESB F isheFisheriesries Conservation Conservation activities activities to the to the DepartmentDepartment ofof Communications, Communications, Energy Climate & Natu Actionral Resou and therces. Environment. esb.ie ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report 2 3 ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report Year Ending 2020 Contents Introduction 4 Chapter 1 The River Shannon 6 Chapter 2 The River Erne 34 Chapter 3 The Rivers Clady and Crolly 47 Chapter 4 The River Liffey 52 Chapter 5 The River Lee 53 2 3 ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report Introduction When we took on the responsibility of generating valuable support from these external bodies resulted in electricity for the Republic of Ireland in 1927, we also 2017 being another solid year for ESB Fisheries. On behalf took on the responsibility of managing, conducting and of ESB, I’d like to acknowledge the support we’ve received Introductionpreserving the fisheries across the rivers where we from everyone and to express our sincerest thanks for operate. It’s a duty we’re proud to carry out to this day, Thedoing support so throughout from these 2017. external bodies helped make When ESB’s hydro generation operations were sure that 2020 was a solid year for ESB Fisheries throughWhen we our took ESB on Fisheries the responsibility team. of generating valuable support from these external bodies resulted in established in Ireland, ESB took on the responsibility Conservation and will benefit the wider community electricity for the Republic of Ireland in 1927, we also I 2017very much being hope another that solidthese year conservation for ESB Fisheries. efforts will On allow behalf of managing, conducting and preserving the fisheries for many years to come. On behalf of ESB, I’d like Thistook team on the works responsibility on a wide of range managing, of activities conducting and theof ESB,wider I’d community like to acknowledge to continue the to enjoysupport the we’ve rivers received where across the rivers where we work. to acknowledge the support we’ve received from acrosspreserving every the calendar fisheries year across but it’s the particularly rivers where worth we wefrom operate, everyone now and and to into express the future. our sincerest thanks for operate. It’s a duty we’re proud to carry out to this day, everyonedoing so throughoutand to express 2017. our sincerest thanks for Ourhighlighting hydro ourgeneration three salmon stations conservation continue hatcheries, to play a doing so throughout 2020. through our ESB Fisheries team. keythe riverrole habitat in reducing restoration our program, carbon and footprinta trap and under Yours sincerely, I very much hope that these conservation efforts will allow ESB’stransport Brighter programme Future for strategythe silver and,eel and once elver again, life ESB This team works on a wide range of activities the wider community to continue to enjoy the rivers where hasstages proudly of the Europeancarried out eel, ouras well Fisheries as a range Conservation of other responsibilitiesfisheriesacross every management calendar under activitiesyear this but it’sstrategysuch particularly as providing during worth 2020 we operate, now and into the future. andpermitshighlighting through and protection our the three additional salmonservices. challengesconservation presented hatcheries, by COVID-19.the river habitat restoration program, and a trap and Yours sincerely, Youtransport can find programme details about for theall this silver activity eel and and elver more life PatPat O’Doherty, Chief Executive Ourinstages the Fisheries following of the EuropeanConservation pages of eel,the 2017 asTeam well Fisheries worksas a range across Report. of other a wide Chief Executive, ESB range of activities each year, with particular focus on And,fisheries as you management move through activities the document, such as providingit’s clear that operating our three salmon conservation hatcheries, muchpermits of theand work protection has taken services. place with the support and the river habitat restoration programme, the eel trap input of many different groups. From local angling clubs andYou transportcan find details programme, about all thisas activitywell as and our more fisheries Pat O’Doherty, Chief Executive managementand community activities. groups, through third level institutions (thein the National following University pages ofof theIreland, 2017 Galway, Fisheries University Report. And, as you move through the document, it’s clear that TheCollege details Cork of and these Queens activities University, for 2020 Belfast), are includedand in much of the work has taken place with the support and thisstatutory report. bodies As always, such as this Inland work Fisheries has only Ireland, been Thepossible input of many different groups. From local angling clubs withMarine the institute, close The support Department of many of Communication, different groups, rangingClimateand community actionfrom and localgroups, Environment, angling through clubsandthird The level and Department institutions community groups,of(the Agriculture, National through UniversityEnvironment third levelof Ireland,and institutions Rural Galway, Affairs, (theUniversity Northern National UniversityIreland.College Cork of Ireland,and Queens Galway, University, University Belfast), College and Cork andstatutory Queens bodies University, such as InlandBelfast), Fisheries to statutory Ireland, Thebodies suchTheMarine combined as institute,Inland efforts Fisheries The Departmentof ESB Ireland, Fisheries of The Communication, with Marine the Institute, TheClimate Department action and of Environment, Communication, and The Climate Department Action andof Agriculture, Environment Environment and The andDepartment Rural Affairs, of Agriculture, Northern EnvironmentIreland. and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland. 4 The combined efforts of ESB Fisheries with the ESB_Fisheries report new 2017.indd 4 24/04/2019 15:36 4 5 4 ESB_Fisheries report new 2017.indd 4 24/04/2019 15:36 ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report Year Ending 2020 Notes 4 72 5 ESB_Fisheries report new 2017.indd 72 24/04/2019 15:36 ESB Fisheries Conservation Annual Report Year ending December 2017 Year ending December 2017 The River Shannon An T’Sionainn Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Task Introduction Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Silver eel TrapTask and Transport The River Shannon catchment area including that of JuvenileSilver eel eel Trap Trap and and Transport Transport the estuary covers approximately 17% of the area of JuvenileTree/Shrub eel clearanceTrap and Transport (NPWS) Ireland. It is the longest river in the British Isles and Tree/ShrubInstream clearance habitat works (NPWS) has a total main channel length of almost 400km, of ElectricalInstream fishinghabitat surveys works which 25% is estuarine. The lakes of the catchment ConstructionElectrical of fishing fishing stands, surveys styles, footbridges are naturally productive and can be generally classified Adult broodstock trapping as either semi-enriched (mesotrophic) or enriched Construction of fishing stands, styles, footbridges (eutrophic). Much of the main river channel is lake- AdultStripping broodstock broodstock trapping like in character reflecting its size, regulated flow HatcheryStripping egg broodstock to fry stage and low gradient (falling just 20m over 200km, south RestockingHatchery juvenile egg salmon to fry (unfed stage fry, parr) of Lough Allen). The largest of the Shannon lakes Restocking juvenileSmolt salmon release (unfed fry, parr) are Loughs Allen (35km2), Ree (105km2) and Derg The Ardnacrusha tailrace and and main River Shannon Fish Counters Smolt(Ardnacrusha release and Parteen) 2 (117km ), with the most important tributaries of the rejoining at the Corbally area of Limerick city. Fish Counters (Ardnacrusha and Parteen) Shannon being the Boyle and Suck to the west and Table 1. The annual work programmes completed by ESB staff during the year. the Inny, Brosna, Little Brosna, Nenagh and Mulkear to the east. In addition to the above agencies, both angling and Table 1. The annual work programmes completed by ESB staff during the year. community groups are becoming increasingly involved. Discharge on the River Shannon is regulated at ESB extends this strong co-operative approach to the Parteen Regulating Weir. Parteen Regulating Weir management of the Shannon fisheries with Inland diverts water into a headrace canal supplying the Fisheries Ireland staff and the Shannon Fisheries 85MW Ardnacrusha generating station and allows a Partnership Group. ESB also utilises the services of 3 -1 statutory compensation flow (10m sec ), equal to the the National University of Ireland, Galway and the low summer flow before the Shannon scheme, to flow Marine Institute. down the Old Shannon river channel. An outline of the various programmes of work that Ardnacrusha generating station, constructed between ESB Fisheries are involved in and the time periods 2 1925 and 1929, harnesses the 10,400km of involved are shown in Table 1. the catchment area upstream. During the 1930’s, Ardnacrusha supplied almost 90% of the electricity needs but today it accounts for less than 3% of the Republic of Ireland’s requirement. However, the ability to generate electricity at short notice when electricity demand