ANNUAL REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019 Mission statement ‘To ensure that the valuable natural resources of inland fisheries and sea angling are conserved, managed, developed, and promoted in their own right to generate a positive return for the community and the environment.’ Principal functions of Inland Fisheries Ireland Inland Fisheries Ireland is the statutory body responsible for inland fisheries in Ireland. It operates under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE). The principal function of Inland Fisheries Ireland is set out under Section 7 (2) of the Inland Fisheries Act of 2010. This is the protection, management and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. The general functions of Inland Fisheries Ireland are to: Promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, marketing, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. Develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries including sea angling, and To ensure implementation and delivery of policy and strategies developed as agreed with the Minister. Inland Fisheries Ireland 3044 Lake Drive Citywest Business Campus Dublin D24 Y265 Web: www.fisheriesireland.ie Email:
[email protected] Phone: + 353 (0)1 8842 600 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Contents Chairman’s Introduction 4 Chief Executive Officer’s Foreword 6 Inland Fisheries Ireland: Board Members 9 Inland Fisheries Ireland: Senior Leadership Team 10 1. Protecting and conserving Ireland’s fisheries resource 11 Protecting and safeguarding fisheries 11 Water quality 21 Environmental protection 24 2. Research: developing knowledge to inform action 34 National Research Survey Programme (NRSP) 34 Habitats work 39 Hydromorphology – linking habitats and species 40 National Eel Monitoring Programme 43 Salmonid research 44 Marine Sport Fish Programme 50 3.