Another 3000 metres of Nursery Stream Development planned for 2025

Working in collaboration with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) Cairde an Chláir are proud to announce that 3000 metres of nursery stream development work is planned for 2025.

There are four projects which have been prioritised for development in 2025

All the sites have been subject to land drainage work in the past and potential recruitment of wild brown trout and salmon has been reduced as a result. Our objective is to improve the recruitment of wild fish with specified introductions of stone and gravel and create some form of sinuosity within straightened channels. This will create new spawning sites, flow variance and a pool riffle regime to provide good nursery habitat for young wild fish.

Mahanagh-Grange river. Good flow gradient but barren of structure and flow variance within the uniform straight featureless channel. This impoverished habitat is unsuitable for reproduction and supporting young wild fish, typical of many headwater streams in the Clare river catchment.

In addition to the material introductions to improve the instream habitat, the projects will also be fenced and solar powered drinking units employed where necessary. In all, there will be approximately 5,750 metres of fencing erected to protect developments. Protecting the sites will generate greater biodiversity along the riverine corridor and where trees are planted within the in-zone area between fencing and stream channel, this will create buffer zones to slow down runoff, reduce flood risk and help to maintain or improve water quality.

With a channel width of 3 metres on some sites, this is another incredible tranche of development work. If we add this to the 3,000 metres of stream enhancements completed in 2024, the total amount of development work which IFI have undertaken within the Clare river catchment over the two year period 2024-25 could amount to 6,000 metres. Anglers and those with an angling interest throughout the greater Corrib catchment should welcome this positive input from IFI, it is a statement of the agencies intent to improve fish stocks not only in the Clare river but in Lough Corrib as well.

The agency for the protection and conservation of fish in Ireland are now fully committed to this strategy for improving stocks of wild fish. Stream enhancements, improving the habitat for recruitment of wild fish is the way forward and if we support this strategy, with good conservation measures, then there is every possibility of long term success.

Anglers are now recognising the contribution that IFI are making toward improving Ireland’s wild trout and salmon fishing. Trout anglers especially are now supporting this new strategy with a growing conviction. There is a greater awareness for conservation and what is required to improve our wild fisheries, as a consequence support for the government agency is increasing. We have world class fisheries but they are not performing as such. Stocks of wild brown trout have been depleted and they are no longer robust, but if we support IFI with their strategy for improving wild fish stocks, these renowned fisheries will have been provided with the best opportunity to recover their world class status.

The potential cost for the 2025 project work amounts to approximately €200,000. We are indebted to IFI for their contribution both professionally and financially, without the huge input from the agency for the protection and conservation of fish in Ireland these projects could not progress to a point of fruition. Another public agency to which we owe a huge vote of thanks is the Office of Public Works (OPW). With the exception of 2023, OPW have supported enhancement schemes in the Clare river catchment since 2020 and we hope that that contribution will continue.

Funding contributions

Cairde an Chláir would also like to thank the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) for their funding assistance, this year the Community Water Development Fund application has changed for our group to the new Farming for Water EIP. As this is a new form of funding, we do not know as yet how this will work out for groups such ours but it is hoped, especially as we have applied for a substantial award, that this new catchment strategy will be successful. This funding support is vital to our projects moving forward. We are also grateful to the Clydagh Foundation for their support, the foundation have supported previous Cairde an Chláir stream enhancements and make a contribution to our materials costs, a contribution which is gratefully received.

This is a winning formula for all involved. If we achieve our 2025 target for stream development, this will mean that Cairde an Chláir will have been involved in over 10,000 metres of stream enhancements since 2020. Public stake holders working with government agencies and funding groups to achieve a common goal, the long term improvement of riverine habitat for the recruitment of wild fish. Our combined contribution also helps to create greater biodiversity, improve or maintain water quality and supports local communities and tourism. The Clare river catchment flows into Lough Corrib an important Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is part of the greater Corrib catchment, so our contribution has a wider implication and it is a win, win for all locally.