An Inland Fisheries Ireland survey has found that 94% of anglers are now releasing more of the trout they catch back into Lough Sheelin than they did when they started fishing.
The IFI research involved 132 participants, and more than half of these had over 25 years’ experience fishing for wild brown trout in Lough Sheelin which borders counties Cavan, Meath, and Westmeath,
The local lake attracts anglers nationwide and internationally. Catch-and-release methods ensure that trout stock have a greater chance of survival within the freshwater lake.
Dr Cathal Gallagher, Head of Research and Development at IFI said the trends, over the four decades studied in the research, were mostly positive regarding the abundance and size of trout in the lake and its ecosystem. He said respondents commented they now believe the lake is currently fishing well. However, some expressed concerns about threats to Lough Sheelin’s trout stocks, including pollution, pressure from angling activity, poor water quality, and protection of fish.
Mr Gallagher concluded by saying that this research highlights the growth in awareness of fish conservation among anglers and engaging anglers as citizen scientists is now an important element of research programmes at Inland Fisheries Ireland.
