Loughs Agency

WELCOME TO THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION HOMEPAGE

The Conservation and Protection directorate of the Loughs Agency has responsibility in all aspects of fisheries management including fisheries protection and scientific evaluation and monitoring. The Agency has teams of locally based staff in the North west, Omagh and Carlingford. In addition, the Agency operates several fisheries protection vessels including the Lough Bradan in the Foyle area and the Mytilus in Carlingford, to assist with the conservation and protection of fish stocks.

Fishery Officers seizing an illegal net at Porthall

The Loughs Agency has an extensive programme of environmental activities that include:

• Monitoring, development and improvement of fish stocks
• Water quality monitoring programmes.
• Implementation of Fisheries Legislation.
• Deployment, programming & servicing of automatic samplers.
• Assessment and inspection of wastewater treatment plants, farm waste facilities and other outfalls affecting the fishery resource.
• Logging and investigation of all pollution complaints and incidents.
• Liaison with Consultants in relation to mitigation measures necessary arising from large scale developments.
• Integration of environmental data into Agency Geographic Information System.
• The Agency operates a investigation laboratory specifically equipped to deal with water quality monitoring, routine sampling of rivers and lakes for pollution problems.
• Assessing licence applications made to the Environmental Protection Agency and Local Authorities. Examples of these licences include Integrated Pollution and Prevention Control (IPPC) licences, Waste Management Licences, Local Government (Water Pollution) Act licences. Water Order (Northern Ireland) 1999 consents.
• Assessing forestry related proposal, e.g. Afforestation applications, Felling Licences and Native Woodland schemes.
• Assessing Local Authority Development Plans, Strategic Environmental Assessments, Guidelines produced by agencies, which may involve aquatic habitats.
• Processing of prosecutions and court actions arising from incidents of water pollution and fisheries protection.
• Increasing awareness of the protection and conservation of fisheries

Fish kill and pollution incident investigation.

This activity involves staff using modern environmental investigative techniques to Investigate and monitoring actual and potential sources of water pollution. This relates to a wide range of issues, which include poor quality discharges, illegal dumping, developments in or close to watercourses and fish kills.

The Agency enforces the Fisheries acts pollution control provisions on both sides of the Irish border to ensure both the fish population and their habitats are protected.

This work is often carried out in liaison with Central government agencies and Local Authorities.

Agencies we deal with

On a day to day basis the Loughs Agency staff engage with a wide range of other bodies, both statutory and non-statutory.

These can include:
• Local authorities
• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Roads Authority
• Government Departments
• Other Fisheries Boards
• Angling Clubs
• NGOs
• Office of Public Works
• National Parks and Wildlife Service
• Marine Institute
• Fisheries Conservancy Board, Northern Ireland
• Environment and Heritage Service, Northern Ireland
• Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Northern Ireland.

The public's role

The public play an essential role in the protection of the aquatic environment. This role primarily relates to the reporting of incidents of water pollution and interference in freshwater habitat. Should you see something suspicious, or anyone illegally fishing;

Handling and Sale of Wild Salmon or Sea Trout

At the Loughs Agency we spend a great deal of time and money on anti-poaching patrols to ensure that our salmon stocks are protected. Poaching salmon is obviously illegal, but there are also offences relating to handling and selling these fish.

Foyle and Carlingford legislation makes it an an offence to handle illegally caught salmon or sea trout

Prosecution for these offences could result in large fines and orr even imprisonment.

If you do suspect that fish are being handled and/or traded illegally we would very much like to hear from you, and will treat all information in strict confidence.

PLEASE contact our 24 hour response line on 02871 342100

Conservation & Protection - Welcome

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