WRITTEN QUESTION E-0476/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 February 2001)

Subject: Freshwater fishing in Ireland: the systematic extermination of pike as a means of increasing trout stocks

1. Can the Commission confirm that pike culling i.e. a campaign to ensure the wholesale removal of pike (Esox lucius) from lakes and rivers takes place in the Western Lakes Region in Ireland with a view to maintaining and increasing trout stocks in the hope that the number of brown trout (Salmo trutta) will thereby increase?

2. Can the Commission confirm that one of the conditions laid down for the granting of financial aid to fisheries projects by the EU is that a fish-stock survey must be carried out but that, according to the scientists involved, the fish stocks recorded by the WRFB in the spring of 1996 with the aid of gillnets did not come up with enough pike to support the theory that there were too many pike in Lough Mask, after which pike were caught in their spawning grounds and added to the number recorded for the lake?

3. Can the Commission also confirm that one of the conditions laid down for the granting of financial aid to fisheries projects by the EU is that an investigation must be carried out into water quality and that the survey published in January 1997 by the Corrib Angling Federation (entitled: Lough Corrib a cause for concern) led to the conclusion that the arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), which is not a prey for pike, was disappearing from the lake and that the water quality was such as to make the permanent survival of salmon and trout virtually impossible, thereby providing absolute justification for measures designed to bring about a sharp improvement in water quality?

4. Is the Commission aware that, according to the survey concerning Lake Corrib referred to in point 3 above, in the spring of 1997 the WRFB simply went ahead with the wholesale removal of pike without complying with the condition laid down for the granting of a subsidy that fish caught in nets should be released into other lakes and that complaints about its action subsequently resulted in the programme being suspended in September 1997?

5. Has the Commission now realised that further pike culling takes place every year in a brief period lasting no more than three months in spring so that the culling is over before the Commission receives complaints on the basis of which the setting up of an inquiry might be justified?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2001)

1. Scientific evidence has required that in order to protect and maximise the unique wild brown trout limestone fisheries of the west of Ireland, the introduced species of pike, perch and roach should be actively managed. It is ecologically imperative to provide a balance between competing stocks. This management method has been extremely successful at maximising the wild brown trout numbers and this is supported by 30 years of scientific evidence.

2. According to the information received from the Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB), Lough Mask was surveyed during the spawning season of 1996, a sample of pike was obtained from both lake and spawning grounds, on the basis of which scientific criteria were identified for the proper management of these lakes.

3. As per the information provided by the WRFB, the report Lough Corrib a cause for concern was not a peer reviewed publication and occurred some 16 years after the last record of char in Lough Corrib. A comprehensive programme of water quality monitoring was undertaken and is ongoing; this programme is fully co-ordinated with the environment protection agency and the local authorities. The water quality of the great western lakes is still excellent for wild salmon and brown trout survival and individual problems within the catchment have been identified and remedial measures are being actively pursued.

4. As indicated by the WRFB, the scientific rationale for the stock management programme on large limestone lakes in Ireland has been developed and refined over 30 years. It is based on sound science that has been peer reviewed and pike caught were and still are being transferred to other waters and some large pike have been tagged and released.

5. According to the information received from the WRFB, stock management is a seasonal feature of Irish wild brown trout limestone fisheries and in order to protect the native wild brown trout from the introduced species of pike, perch and roach these species are selectively managed. Such operations are common practice throughout Western Europe and North America. No effort is made to hide this necessary management operation. The management is done primarily from January till March each year for operational and logistical reasons.