74th MEETING OF THE FOYLE CARLINGFORD AND IRISH LIGHTS COMMISSION Wednesday 2nd May 2012 @ 11am Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh Attendees Present Winston Patterson (Chairman) Alan McCulla (Vice Chair) Andrew Duncan Donal Tipping Jim Wilson Joe Miller Michael McCormick Phil Mahon Seamus Rodgers Tarlach O’Crosain Theresa McLaverty In Attendance - Loughs Agency John Pollock – Director of Corporate Services John McCartney – Director of Conservation and Protection Barry Fox – Director of Aquaculture and Shellfisheries Laura McCready (Minutes) 1. Apologies Thomas Sloan Derick Anderson – CEO 2. Conflict of Interest There were no conflicts of interest with any agenda items. 3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed as an accurate record. Proposed Alan McCulla Seconded Tarlach O’Crosain 4. Reserved Minutes The reserved minutes were agreed by all. Proposed Alan McCulla Seconded Tarlach O’Crosain 5. Matters Arising There were no matters arising from the previous meeting. 6. CEO Report Chairman advised the Board that the CEO was unavailable to attend the meeting and asked John Pollock to update the Board on any issues that may have been brought up by the CEO. John Pollock advised that since the last Board Meeting two members of staff had been seriously assaulted whilst on routine patrol. The first Fishery Officer Kris Kennedy received a broken nose on Lifford Bridge on 28th March 2012 and on 30th April 2012 Fishery Officer Donal Lynch was also assaulted receiving serious facial injuries, both members of staff remain on sick leave. All Board Members expressed their great concerns in relation to the ongoing attacks on staff and asked that their best wishes be passed to Fishery Officers Kennedy and Lynch for a speedy recover. Tarlach O’Crosain expressed his concern at the inadequate response of An Garda Siochána in dealing with the assault on Fishery Officer Kris Kennedy and asked that this was reported to the Superintendent in Lifford or Letterkenny Garda Station. John McCartney advised that this had already been highlighted. Andrew Duncan stated that as it seemed to be the same area and individuals causing the problems and asked if all necessary controls were in place to protect Agency staff or was there anything else that Board Members could do to increase staff protection. John McCartney advised that staff are provided with all necessary equipment and with current cuts in budgets the Agency were doing as best they could with cuts to temporary seasonal staff. Vice Chairman expressed his grave concerns about staff receiving head injuries. He added that it has been well over one year since these attacked were first reported to the Board and they seemed to be more frequent and violent. Theresa McLaverty also expressed her concern and stated that in her opinion the Board needed to look at their role as duty of care to protection staff who should not have to work in these conditions. Barry Fox advised that he had previously been a Fishery Officer and acts of violence on staff was a long standing problem and although unacceptable it had always been a part of the job that Fishery Officer dealt with. 7. Directors Report The Board were provided with updates from the Senior Management Team each giving a brief overview on their respective areas. Conservation and Protection John McCartney, Director of Conservation and Protection provided the Board with the following report: Angling effort in Foyle has picked up considerably with the opening of the Mourne catchment, however the year has begun very badly with 2 Fishery Officers being seriously assaulted while on anti poaching duties at Lifford. The Fishery Officers were hospitalised and remain on sick leave. Salmon poaching has continued to be a significant drain on resources with a very high level of activity for this time of year. Some of last year’s illegal angling cases have come before the courts both in Foyle and Carlingford and have attracted fines of between £50 and £150. Consultations There are no current consultations ongoing within the Conservation and Protection Directorate but a number of Regulatory changes are in advanced stages of development. The current Regulation Implementation table is attached. Health and Safety As discussed earlier there has been two serious incidents with two members of staff being assaulted, in addition there has been one other minor accident recorded in the accident book. Comparative Fish Counts 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 April April April April April April April April Faughan 79 38 191 258 -31 -16 47 6 Finn 308 357 672 128 155 98 182 41 Sion Mills 8 1126 1173 109 883 70 394 189 Roe 37 346 567 108 36 -6 139 -130 Corrick 20 0 144 43 1 4 - - Newry Not Not Not available available available 74 12 87 19 3 Omagh Not Not Not available available available 36 17 38 -1 -2 Enforcement Actions In 2012 so far, Agency staff have dealt with 7 rod related offences, and seizures. Agency protection staff also seized 31 illegal nets, 5 boats as well as various other items listed below. Staff have dealt with 8 pollution incidents, and taken 2 sets of statutory samples. Other seized items; • Pulley System: Black cable, 200meters long • Winchester hunting Knife • Black handled knife • Hammer and ball of chord • One long line with yellow float and baited with roach • 7 assorted fishing floats • 5 assorted fishing lures and attached hooks and lead weights • Priest, gloves, lead wrapping • Pulley system • Two pound lump hammer wrapped in blue cord. • One 0.5 Kilo Avery weight attached to cord • Net Grab • Kitchen Knife • Net Box Environment Pollution incidents are slightly reduced for this time of year, however the potential for silage effluent pollution continues to be a significant threat to juvenile stocks. There have been issues with start up and commissioning of hydro electric schemes and the effect of dewatering of rivers and weirs. This is of significant concerns at this time of year when salmon smolts are beginning to move. Loughs Agency have formally contacted Northern Ireland Environment Agency in relation to the Omagh Hydro scheme run by Omagh District Council and are still awaiting a response. As far as the Agency is aware the scheme is currently not operating pending an outcome from Northern Ireland Environment Agency. John McCartney advised the Board that following some significant debate he had drafted 2 documents for internal consultation to consolidate angling Regulations. John added that part of these Regulations suggest reducing the number of tags issued to anglers and increasing the price of an angling licensing to being the Agency in line with the rest of Ireland. Aquaculture and Shellfisheries Barry Fox, Director of Aquaculture and Shellfishes provided the Board with the following report: Native Oyster Survey The spring native oyster survey was completed at the end of April. There has been little evidence so far of any unusual mortality in the stock however some fresh mortality has been recorded on the bottom of the Southside Bed. Figure 1. Map showing oyster areas in Lough Foyle There is still good signs of juvenile oysters on many of the beds and this gives hope that the spat falls in 2011 and 2012 have survived. As expected at this time of the year there is evidence of large scale removal of adult oysters (>80mm) during the fishing season and we are assessing the size of the stock that should be available to next year’s fishery in September 2012. The landings figures from the current season match up well with the tonnage predicted in the Agency’s autumn 2012 survey. The Marine Scientist and Aquaculture and Shellfish Officer attended a native oyster restoration workshop in London on the 26th March. The report from both staff indicated that it was not only a good networking event but was very worthwhile in that it was identified that currently there is not a best practice model for restoration works within oyster fisheries. However our attendance has provided examples of projects that have been successful in the past and it is anticipated that IBIS project work alongside the Agency’s expertise and links with other development agencies will provide opportunities to develop the oyster fishery in Lough Foyle. Oyster Spawning Assessment The Agency will conduct a follow up spawning assessment survey in Lough Foyle in the native oyster populations to assess the spawning rates of various sized oysters on a selection of beds using the MMV Ostrea during the summer period. This work will help to confirm that oysters remaining in the fishery after the close of the commercial season in the springtime are of an adequate size to retain a continuous spawning stock biomass through the summer breeding season. Shellfish Hygiene Survey Shellfish Hygiene sampling continues to run relatively smoothly. There have been concerns with regards to the keep box deployed at Site M4 on Lough Foyle (Figure 2). These concerns have been confirmed after an uncharacteristic Class C result from the site. The levels of E. coli in shellfish flesh dictate the processes which shellfish undergo before reaching the consumer market. If levels are below 230 E. coli per 100 g of shellfish flesh (Class A) then the shellfish may go direct for human consumption. If levels are below 4 600 E. coli per 100 g of flesh (Class B) then the shellfish must be subject to purification by relaying in a Class A area or cooking by an approved method. If levels are below 46 000 E. coli per 100 g of flesh (Class C) then shellfish must be relayed for at least two months or cooked by an approved method. Above 46 000 E.