Ireland Branch Newsletter ISSUE 4. Autumn 2014

Transcription

1 Ireland Branch Newsletter ISSUE 4 Autumn 2014 Welcome to the long delayed fourth edition of the Institute of Fisheries Management, Ireland Branch Newsletter. Without making too many excuses revolving around busy work lives and hectic home lives it highlights the need for more assistance with Institute and Branch business. The Institute relies upon voluntary efforts to deliver many of its outputs. If you feel that you would be able to contribute some time and effort towards organising branch activities please get in touch. I would like to thank those of you who have contributed articles for this edition and as usual to make a request for articles for future issues. If you enjoy reading this or more importantly if you do not, please take ten minutes to pen a short article updating colleagues on a project you are involved with. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for future content or if you wish to contribute an article, send it to Ireland@ifm.org.uk Art Niven, Hon Sec, IFM Ireland Branch John Pollock Appointed as new CEO of the Loughs Agency John Pollock has been appointed as the new CEO of the Loughs Agency from April John had been acting CEO since Derick Anderson retired in June He first joined the Loughs Agency as senior policy officer before being appointed as Director of Corporate Services. John is a member of the Institute of Fisheries Management. We wish him well in his new appointment and look forward to working with him on areas of mutual interest.

2 Species A huge threat to Ireland s Biodiversity Early warnings and rapid response urged at IT Sligo Workshop 10 th September 2013 With more than 10 aquatic invasive species detected in Irish waters in the last decade, the importance of their early identification and management was discussed at a workshop in IT Sligo, organised by IT Sligo, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the National Biodiversity Data Centre and supported by the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland. Introduced species which can range from jellyfish to aquatic plants enter Irish waters through a variety of pathways and their presence can pose a significant threat to biodiversity. One of the most recent discoveries was a jellyfish detected in Loughs Derg and Erne last month which has been identified as originating from the Yangtze River Valley in China. Other species include Lagarosiphon major, a pondweed which continues to be intensively managed in Lough Corrib, to prevent its interference with trout angling and also the Asian clam, which is present in high numbers in the Shannon and the Barrow navigations. Ecologist and lecturer Dr Frances Lucy is an international expert in aquatic invasive species. Together with colleagues in IT Sligo, she has formed a new research centre at the Institute called the Centre for Environmental Research Innovation and Sustainability (CERIS), which is focused on developing and increasing research capacity in the areas of applied ecology and resource management. Page 2 of 24

3 She said that the increase in international travel and trade is a factor in the increase of these invasive species in our freshwater; Invasive species enter out waterways a number of ways, she said but there is no doubt that the increase in international travel is a huge factor. We do not want the unwelcome presence of invasive species. Something as simple as emptying a fish tank into a river or down the sink can also result in the introduction of plant and animal invaders. The workshop at IT Sligo - attended by representatives from Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Loughs Agency, the EPA, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Sligo and Galway County Councils, the OPW, Waterways Ireland and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Queens University Belfast was held to raise awareness of the threats posed by the invasive species and to educate people working in Ireland s freshwater about their responsibilities in their early identification and management. Dr Lucy continued; These species are recognised to be the second greatest threat to our biodiversity. In addition, not only can they cause problems for our water supplies, they can also adversely affect recreational activities like fishing and boating. As Ireland strives to achieve its target under the EU Water Framework Directive ahead of the 2015 deadline, it s critical that all agencies who work in our waterways proactively co-operate with Inland Fisheries Ireland in their work to manage them. Dr. Joe Caffrey, Inland Fisheries Ireland, said that anyone who finds anything unusual they suspect to be an invasive species should contact IFI directly. Page 3 of 24

4 Ireland Branch Calendar of Events, 2014/15 At the time of going to print the calendar of events for 2015 has not been confirmed. It is hoped to have a fisheries enforcement conference at the end of February 2015 which will include the AGM. Other proposed events for 2015 include an Eel seminar/conference, a practical fisheries rehabilitation A-Z event, two early summer sea fishing/sight seeing trips (one out of Cork Harbour and one out of Inishowen) and an IFM Electrofishing training course. Members will be notified of these events when they are finalised. Membership Drive It is never too late to join the Institute or to renew your membership. If you are interested in joining or need to renew your membership please go to: IFM Annual Conference, 2014 The annual conference was held at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool in early October. This year s theme was fisheries from sea to source. It was great to see a strong focus on inshore fisheries with some great presentations from the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA s). For more information and the presentations check out the IFM website Paul Johnston of Paul Johnston and Associates Fisheries Consultants and a longstanding IFM member reports on: Baseline monitoring of a major road development. The A8 Dualling Scheme Lagan Ferrovial Costain (LFC) were appointed by the Department of Regional Development, Roads Service (now Transport NI) in July 2012, to provide the design and construction services to the A8 Dualling project - Colemans Corner (Newtownabbey) to Ballyrickard Road (Larne). The scheme requires the upgrading over 14km of the A8 between the B94 near Ballyclare and the A36, south of the Port of Larne, and involves the construction of the following: Around 9km of online widening of the existing A8 carriageway. Approximately 5km of offline bypasses at Bruslee and Ballynure. Page 4 of 24

5 Around 12km of side road improvements and accommodation works laneways. Seven overbridges and one underbridge. Numerous culverts formed with concrete pipes and precast boxes. The project commenced on site on 31 July 2012, and is scheduled to be complete by December Monitoring Rationale Paul Johnston Associates was approached by LFC at the start of the scheme with a view to initiating a biological monitoring programme for the aquatic environment with regard to the watercourses draining the route corridor of the new road (Fig 1). The potential impacts of major road projects on local rivers have been a topical issue in recent years, particularly with regard to the problem of sediment run-off from the major engineering and earthworks required. A common deficiency in the understanding of any impacts has been the lack of robust baseline data on the aquatic environment prior to the commencement of significant engineering works on the ground. This led to the development by DCAL/AFBI of a Fully Quantitative Salmonid Habitat Assessment Technique for the acquisition of more extensive quantitative information on fish habitats and river substrate characteristics. This methodology was therefore adopted for the A8 Dualling Scheme and was supplemented with further investigations on biological water quality and fish stocks. These investigations were designed to assimilate a greater degree of quantitative information on the aquatic environment, which could be measured pre and post scheme to detect and measure the scale of any resultant impacts. The surveys were carried out during the summer months in Field Surveys A series of 16 sampling sites were selected spanning the two neighbouring river catchments traversed by the route corridor of the new road, the Sixmile Water and the Larne/Inver River. Thirteen reference sites were located within or downstream of the route corridor, while 3 control sites were selected upstream of the route corridor. Physical sampling of salmonid habitat characteristics was based on the recommended DCAL/AFBI methodology for the acquisition of more extensive quantitative information on fish habitats and river substrate characteristics. Three transects were selected at each sampling site for detailed measurement of physical characteristics, while four substrate samples were collected for analysis of the proportion of fine sediments in the riverbed. Page 5 of 24

6 LARNE BALLYCLAR NEWTOWNABB Figure 1: Overview of A8 road scheme from Coleman s Corner to Larne. Page 6 of 24

7 Biological monitoring consisted of sampling of all sites for aquatic invertebrates to assess biological water quality, and sampling of juvenile fish stocks to examine salmonid (trout & salmon) distribution and abundance. Measurement of transect characteristics generally reflected a dominance of coarse materials in the riverbed with a significant degree of irregularity (heterogeneity) typical of good quality salmonid habitats (Plate 1). Plate 1: Measurement of physical characteristics at selected transects (depth, width, flow velocity, substrate coarseness) Substrate analysis revealed that the proportion of fine particles in riverbed sediments was comparable to other recognised salmonid rivers in Northern Ireland, and actually slightly superior to sites sampled on the River Roe which is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for salmon (Plate 2; Fig 2). Plate 2: Extraction of stream bed sediments for particle size analysis using modified McNeil corer. Page 7 of 24

8 Dry Weight % (Cumulative) Minimal Grain Size (mm) Figure 2: Typical particle size distribution in four sediment samples at one location on the Sixmile Water Biological sampling indicated Good water quality conditions at most sites with Moderate water quality suggestive of a moderate impact from organic pollution at small number of sites. Electrofishing revealed a widespread distribution of juvenile trout in both river systems with Excellent densities of fish throughout the Sixmile Water and Good densities in the Larne/Inver River. Conclusions The physical and biological surveys have assimilated a significant range and depth of quantitative information which may be used as a baseline in any post-construction assessment of the impact of the road scheme on the aquatic environment. Physical and biological conditions at the selected sites examined across the two catchments were in general found to be relatively good. Site specific problems were found to be due to local characteristics or issues unrelated to the road scheme. Page 8 of 24

9 James Barry IBIS PhD student and IFM member reports on: The ecology and conservation management of European eel Anguilla Anguilla Project background My PhD forms part of the IBIS project which is a partnership between the Loughs Agency (Lead Partner), the University of Glasgow and Queen's University Belfast. It has created an 8m cross-border project to help protect aquatic resources across Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland. The ethos of IBIS is to assist environmentally sustainable economic development across the INTERREG IVA area through evidence-based management of aquatic resources. The recent declines in European eel populations make gaining more insight into their diversity of ecology and behaviour urgent because it will help to identify the extent to which changes in management can help conserve and recover stocks. During the continental stage of the eel s lifecycle which can last for up to 50 years they are faced with numerous anthropogenic impacts, however it is in this phase that effective management can have an influential bearing on the success of the continental life stage, which in hand can support increased numbers of mature eels leaving continental waters to complete their lifecycle. The main focus of the PhD is to investigate the ecology and conservation management of the European eel in the UK and Ireland. In addition this study will investigate variation within and between yellow stage eel populations as well as behaviour patterns in sites from Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. PhD Research leading to applied management outcomes. Working examples of PhD work. Heading in the right direction There is evidence in the literature that indicates that individual eels may be highly specialised in their foraging ecology in freshwater. Our objectives are to establish a relationship between long term foraging habits and morphology and to quantify specialisation of eels from various habitat types. An objective is to examine how trophic ecology is related to growth and fat stores of the European eel across a range of continental habitats in UK and Ireland. Eels feed in these habitats so as to accumulate sufficient energy reserves for their return migration to the Sargasso Sea. We are investigating the importance of understanding these life history variations and the effect they are having on growth on lipid reserves and how this may influence the timing of spawning migration from habitats investigated. Lake movements Effective fisheries management needs to consider spatial behaviour of the species being investigated. Understanding the movement and habitat use of a threatened species is vital to Page 9 of 24

10 implementing effective conservation strategies. The objective of this piece of work is to determine the summer movement patterns of the yellow eel stage A.anguilla within an oligotrophic lake system using fixed array acoustic telemetry. Specifically we were interested in 1) home range and core area size within the lake system 2) depth preference within the lake 3) activity patterns and diel behaviour and how they are affected by environmental and biological variables, and 4) the coexistence of two behavioural types (broad and narrow) and how this affects movement patterns. The findings from this tracking work will increase our understanding of how eels utilise this important habitat. Escaping silvers Despite increased awareness of potential bottlenecks to the downstream migration of silver eels (hydropower, dams & weirs) their migration remains poorly documented in natural unregulated waterways and also in the early marine phase. This leaves serious problems in planning effective conservation strategies as well as gauging the potential mortality for outward migrating individuals. This study investigates the natural downstream movement patterns of silver eels in an unregulated river system as well as the early marine phase through a sea loch in the Foyle catchment Northern Ireland. An array 12 hydrophones was deployed along the River Finn and into the Foyle estuary and 20 seaward migrants were tagged with acoustic transmitters. Using information gathered in this study, recommendation for the management and implementation of conservation strategies will be put forward for out migrating silver eel stage A.anguilla in the Foyle catchment. In Conclusion Globally freshwater fish face many anthropogenic threats including habitat degradation, migration barriers, fisheries exploitation, environmental climate change and the introduction of invasive species. Couple these threats with two trans-atlantic migrations and we slowly start to realise the challenges facing the European eel Anguilla anguilla in the successful completion of its lifecycle. European eel stocks remain critical across its range however in recent years we have observed an increase in returning glass eel numbers. Over the last two years recruitment to continental waters has gone from under 1% to 1.5% of the reference level in the North Sea and from 5% to 10% in west coast of Europe. This is a very positive sign with regards eel recruitment. However it highlights the importance more than ever to ensure continued monitoring is undertaken to track this potential turnaround in eel recruitment. Current eel research is crucial in providing managers with appropriate conservation strategies to ensure the most is made of the improved numbers in eel recruitment. Page 10 of 24

11 Rachel Scott, GIS Officer with the Loughs Agency discusses habitat survey using GPS handheld devices and integration with GIS to target fisheries habitat improvement works. The Loughs Agency undertakes habitat surveys of river channels to assess the quantity and quality of Atlantic salmon spawning, holding and nursery habitats. The habitat is graded based on quality from 1 (best quality) to 4 (poorest quality). Secondary information including bank erosion, trampling by cattle, fly tipping, locations of barriers and invasive species amongst other impacts are also recorded. The information is graded based on Severity from 1 (most severe) to 3 (least severe). Page 11 of 24

12 Both primary and secondary habitat information is recorded on GPS units in the field and integrated into the Loughs Agency Geographical Information System (GIS). This information can then be overlaid with fish stock assessment data. The GIS can be interrogated to highlight areas where specific habitats are present and cross queried to highlight where certain pressures are present and where fish populations are within defined limits. The data can be viewed at varying scales so results can be localised to target site specific areas on rivers. If the relevant data sets are available for interrogation this method can facilitate the identification of the most vulnerable actively producing habitats. Once these areas have been highlighted they are visited and site inspection documentation can be completed and habitat improvement specification developed. For example on the Finn catchment, GIS was used to define stretches of river with the best quality habitat, correlated with the presence of salmon redds during and found to have the highest severity rating of the pressure codes. These areas could then be targeted for further investigations and habitat improvement. Robert Rosell, IFM member, Chairman of the Ireland Branch and Fisheries Scientist at the Agri Food and Biosciences Institute Page 12 of 24

13 Northern Ireland discusses: The lower Lough Erne fish surveys. The value of the long term view. Summer gill net surveys of lower Lough Erne have been conducted by AFBI and DCAL (and previously by DARD fisheries and science service) at three yearly intervals since These surveys are now the basis of assessing trends and changes in fish stocks over time, seen in catch per unit effort indices of numbers and weights captured of the key species. Analysis of the most recent (2013) survey in the current series of surveys of Lower Lough Erne fish stocks has now been completed, showing significant trends and changes over time. Setting gill nets in lower Lough Erne (The weather is not always like this) The surveys began through a crisis of confidence in angling tourism businesses following several years of poor performance in major coarse fishing competitions in the early 1990s. At that time it was impossible for fisheries managers to say whether the poor years were due to changes in fish stocks or simply down to variation in seasonal weather patterns affecting the fishing. Either way, tourism and angling authorities needed information on how best to sell the resource and match advertised expectations to the experience on the water. The survey data has gained added value as the time series become longer, showing trends over time, particularly through the game-changing event of zebra mussel arrival, but also with changes in nutrient loading, and seasonal weather variation. Crucially, the data and providing a check to compare perceived angler experience against actual fish numbers. The first Page 13 of 24

14 systematic multi-mesh gillnet surveys, pre-dating the Water Framework Directive, also provided a starting point for implementing WFD methods. Over time, it has become clear that not all fish are equally well accounted for in the summer surveys with multi-mesh nets for margin fish stocks. These nets are now supplemented with targeted exercises for the large species, such as a spring 2013 survey for pike at spawning time (on a catch and release basis), deep open water echosounder targeted surveys for pelagic perch, trout and pollan, and the addition of larger meshes to surveys. Eels are also surveyed separately using fyke nets. Results to CPUE - Numbers per metre of survey net- (log transformed) Log CPUE Pike Perch Roach Bream Hybrids Trout Catch per net split to species, 1992 to 2013, Y axis transformed to log scale show trends in one figure Roach and perch have dominated the stock by number and weight since surveys began, but with a marked and consistent long term shift from more roach than perch toward more perch than roach, after the arrival of the zebra mussel in 1998 to Recently, the two years prior to 2013 appear to have been historically poor for roach recruitment which may shift the stock even further from roach to perch dominance. Page 14 of 24

15 Ratio of Perch to roach in Lower Lough Erne Percent of total fish numbers in survey net catch percent of survey net catch by number Perch Roach year of survey Change over time in ratios perch and roach as a proportion of total catches in surveys, 1971 to 2013 A small number of large (more than 28 cm) perch taken in the 2010 and 2103 surveys indicate an increase in the growth rate of perch for the generations post zebra mussel introduction. A few perch are now reaching sizes of 3 lb, unheard of since the arrival and expansion of roach in the 1950s and 60s. An angler Caught perch (estimated at 3lb +) from Lough Erne) Page 15 of 24

16 Roach length frequenc y Ireland Branch of the Institute of Fisheries Management Autumn 2014 Newsletter There are clear differences in how species year class cohorts progress through their lifespan. While perch tend to show a similar population structure in all surveys, with large numbers of small fish and progressively smaller numbers of larger, older specimens, roach seem to be inherently less stable in recruitment but on reaching 2 years old, strong cohorts can be seen progressing through successive surveys from recruitment to eventual death of old age (about 13 years). There has been a marked decline in bream stocks over the past two decades, alongside an increase in the number of roach x bream hybrids. It would be interesting if other IFM members have data from other sites in Ireland as there are hints that this might be a wider phenomenon Roach length frequency distribution showing the track of strong year groups first evident in 1996, 2004 and 2010, the 1996 recruitment eventually passing out of the population through old age (at circa 12 years) between 2007 and Trout numbers present the greatest difficulties in understanding trends. While numbers of larger trout appear to be relatively stable numbers of smaller trout encountered for recent surveys vary more from one survey to the next, and are currently low in the long term context. These results are something of a puzzle, but in the longer term, annual fry and juvenile surveys on feeder streams could offer a solution to understanding true population trends. Changes in Page 16 of 24

17 behaviour of trout since the Zebra Mussel induced increased water clarity are also a real possibility affecting results Trout catch per unit effort, LLE "survey" nets (with 95% confidence limits) 0.02 catch per metre of net Catches of trout in 50mm (2 inch) nets, LLE with 95 % confidence limits Catch per net Year Trout data from multi-mesh surveys nets (mainly recently recruited fish cm) and from concurrent 50mm mesh nets (35-50 cm fish), showing differing trends for the two components of stock Page 17 of 24

18 Pike show a similar phenomenon to trout in the summer surveys, with reduced catches of small pike post zebra mussel but apparently not linked to any reduction in larger fish. A pike targeted survey in spring 2013 shows the pike stock to be within the range of earlier (1990s) data with a higher average individual size. Live pike from a catch spring survey lining up to be measured and released Finally, what of the Lough Erne Pollan?. This fish has not been encountered in the summer margin multimesh nets, as it spends most of the year in the deep colder water of the open Lough. Additional surveys have been conducted as resources permit to check on its population, by using deep set gill nets targeted using echo-sounder data. This fish was recorded as almost extinct in , but more recently there appears to have been a significant recovery, 2010 and 2013 numbers being the best recorded in recent times. In 2013, a sample of 50 fish was found in 12 net nights, ten times the catch per unit effort figure of 2010, which was itself a best result since searches started in Page 18 of 24

19 Inland Fisheries Ireland Press Release: New Era for Fisheries Management at Launch of Bass, Pike and Trout Policies National policies for the management of trout, pike and bass, were today ( ) launched by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state agency responsible for the protection, conservation, management and promotion of Ireland s inland fisheries and sea angling resources. Speaking at the launch, IFI chairman, Mr Brendan O Mahony, commented, These policies are the first national species policies to be issued from IFI and in this regard represent a new era for fisheries management in Ireland. The policies will provide for the better conservation and management of bass, pike and trout in Ireland and will help ensure sustainability of stocks into the future. In addition, they will allow for improved angling, economic impacts and help to sustain and improve the many jobs that are supported by recreational angling in Ireland. John Chambers (IFPAC), Eamon Moore (TAFI), Prof Martin O'Grady and Martin Butler, Members of the Brown trout Policy Group, flank Brendan O'Mahony, Chairman, and Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO, IFI Page 19 of 24

20 Members of the Bass Policy Group Micheal Hennessey, John Quinlan and Shane O'Reilly with Brendan O'Mahony and Dr Ciarn Byrne John Chambers (IFPAC), Dr Joe Caffrey, Liam Gavin and John Crudden (IFPAC), members of the Pike Policy Group, with Brendan O'Mahony and Dr Ciaran Byrne Page 20 of 24

21 The three policy documents have been formulated, through a rigorous consultation process, by groups comprising: fisheries scientists; angling federations; and industry representatives. The recommendations will now be brought forward and put into practice by IFI. Where required IFI will seek legislative changes to underpin and support the policies, which will be reviewed after a period of three years. The main recommendations put forward include: For Bass: a reduction in the daily angling bag limit from two to one fish in any 24 hour period; an increase in the minimum landing size; and a review of the closed season. For Pike: in designated, managed wild brown trout fisheries, the current bye-law is recommended to be amended to prohibit the killing of any pike greater than or equal to 85 cm in length; all larger rod-caught pike should be returned to the water alive; in all other waters of the State an angler will be permitted to take and kill one pike of less than or equal to 50 cm in length (as per the existing bye-law); additionally, the policy calls for further research into pike movement and transfer programmes. For Trout: a national minimum size limit; national bag limits; designation of a number of lakes and rivers sections as wild brown trout fisheries; in addition to other measures. Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland added, I would like to thank all who assisted with the formulation of these policies, and I would also like to acknowledge the passion and understanding that all of the groups have for their species of interest: the environment; habitat; and pressures that they face. The challenge now is to implement these policies through the work of IFI, angling practices, and where necessary, with legislative support. I look forward to progressing these policies with the same collaborative approach as used in their formulation. For more information and to access the policy documents, visit Membership Drive If you are interested in becoming a member of the IFM please click on the following link to download an application form or apply online. Payment can be made by credit card or use the Ireland Branch contacts Ireland@ifm.org.uk to request a membership application form. Benefits include; being a member of a recognised professional institution, opportunities for knowledge transfer, continuing professional development, the Chartered Environmentalist qualification (CEnv), receipt of four copies of the Institutes magazine FISH Page 21 of 24

22 annually, notification and discounted rates for all parent body and regional IFM conferences. Sign up today! Mark McCauley, IFM member and Loughs Agency Assistant Scientific Officer reports on the 2014 freshwater fisheries monitoring programme. In 2014, the Loughs Agency freshwater fisheries monitoring programme incorporated a range of freshwater fish surveys to collect scientific information essential to the conservation, protection and improvement of fish stocks. A rotary screw trap was deployed in April 2014 to intercept downstream migrating Sea trout smolts and upstream migrating adult River lamprey. Both of these surveys were in support of ongoing research projects and to add to a building body of run timing and abundance data from the River Faughan. Key biological information was also collected including genetic samples. Seven large river sites were selected for Water Framework Directive fish surveillance monitoring. A combination of survey methods were used at these locations including quantitative electrofishing, seine netting and fyke netting (dependent upon habitats and the size of the river). The Lough Agency also carried out biota sampling on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. These samples will be tested for bio- priority substances. At the end of June the freshwater biology team conducted genetic sampling of adult Sea Lamprey at the weir in Sion Mills. This was done with the help of Edith Guilloton a PhD student from Queens University working on the ecology and genetics of Lamprey In August a lake survey was conducted on Lough Nambraddan, Co.Donegal. The results showed that the lough had good numbers of smaller brown trout and an eel population relatively similar to other small lakes in west Donegal which had been surveyed previously. Page 22 of 24

23 The Loughs Agency also carried out a fish survey on an experimental and a control site on the Colghfin River. This was to assist the Rivers Agency in pre- works biological monitoring for a flood alleviation scheme in Beragh, Co.Tyrone. The summer of 2014 has also seen a renewed emphasis on mapping of riparian invasive species and barriers to migratory fish species. This year the focus has been on the Finn catchment and two of its main tributaries the Cummirk River and the Elatagh River. For the first time this survey has incorporated a third strand, fisheries habitat impact assessment from which improvement projects can be developed and targeted. The Loughs Agency as in previous years has been heavily involved in the Lough Derg Wild Trout Conservation Project. The project which has been in place for a numbers of years now aims to conduct a genetic stock identification exercise of Brown Trout in the River Derg, the Lough and its inflowing tributaries. The project is being assisted by a Maters student at Queens University, Belfast. Surveys of recent native riparian tree planting projects were also conducted to monitor progress. Page 23 of 24

24 Ireland Branch Office Bearers, Chair, Robert Rosell, Vice Chair, Paddy Greene, Hon Secretary, Art Niven, Treasurer, Greg Forde, social media officer, James Barry Committee Members, Eamon Cusack, Gerald Crawford, Paul Johnston, Richard Turner, Stanley Thorpe and Paddy Boylan James Barry has taken on the role of Social Media Officer for the Ireland Branch if you are on twitter follow Ireland Branch Contacts If you wish to contact the Ireland Branch to make any suggestions for seminars or field visits or wish to forward articles for inclusion in the next newsletter please or Page 24 of 24