I propose to take Questions Nos. 1748 to 1750, inclusive, together.
The National Pike policy, and similar policies for Bass and Trout, were launched, by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), in August 2014. The Pike Policy was agreed with the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs, the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland and the National Association of Recreational Anglers. It was expected that the policy would be reviewed following 3 years of its implementation.
IFI commenced, in late 2016, the process of examining all relevant and appropriate data to inform the review of these policies.
An important element of this examination is a review of the management of pike in designated wild brown trout fisheries. A group comprised of a range of representatives from all relevant disciplines within Inland Fisheries Ireland has been formed and is undertaking this review. Representatives of Pike and Trout Federations have been invited to participate in the group.
The work of the group is in an investigative and discovery phase and, in this regard, the input of a range of scientists identified by members of the group has also been sought. Submissions received by the Review Group, will be considered by the group prior to any conclusions or recommendations being made. Formal discussion on the policy will not take place until such time as IFI have also delivered the outputs from their scientific programme
A public consultation, commenced by the Board of Inland Fisheries Ireland in November 2016, closed in December and all submissions can now be viewed by the public on the IFI website: www.fisheriesireland.ie.
The Review Group aims to complete the process by the end of September 2017. However, this is predicated on having an opportunity to complete the associated scientific research programme and all of the work of the review group in the context of the volume of submissions, the technical nature of the data referenced and the complexity of the issue.
It is important that the policy review group is given sufficient time and space to complete the review and proposals for revision of policy as regards pike and trout, if any, will be decided once the review is completed. In the meantime, the existing policy, agreed in 2014, has been continued in 2017.
