LOCAL ANGLERS UNITE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL POACHING PROBLEM

By Michael McDonnell
michael@northern-standard.ie

growing frustration with the ever increasing levels of illegal poaching of fish on local rivers and lakes came to a head at a special meeting organised last Thursday night in the Sail Inn, Shercock, where a new initiative to be known as ‘Lakewatch’ was launched in a bid to counteract the problem.
The damage being done to angling tourism by illegal fishing practices on lakes — and the littering that went hand in hand with it — was highlighted by the large gathering of local enthusiasts that attended the meeting, some of whom called for hidden cameras to be installed and for vans and equipment used by those involved to be confiscated.
The illegal activities also go as far as holding barbecues on lake shores and even cooking live fish,
It is understood that many of those involved in the poaching activities are non-Irish nationals, mainly from eastern European countries, but some Irish groups from outside the Cavan and Monaghan areas were also accused of involvement.
Lakes in the Ballybay, Rockcorry, Cootehill, Carrickmacross, Gowna, Killeshandra and Belturbet areas were listed as among those being targeted by the poachers, who could travel to over a dozen lakes at a time, quickly laying out or retrieving long lines and nets, the gathering in Shercock was told.
There were also instances where the fish were being cooked and consumed at barbecues that were being held on the lakeshores, it was stated.
Representatives of 15 angling clubs from the Cavan and Monaghan areas gathered at the well-attended meeting, which was organised by the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs (IFPAC).
Full report in The Northern Standard