Although sea trout stocks have recovered well here since the collapse of the late '80s and early '90s, it's still imperative that the fish returning to the system are given every chance to reproduce. Therefore, the fishery has undertaken a programme of catchment analysis and rehabilitation. During 2002, with the assistance of the Central Fisheries Board and Western Regional Fisheries Board, population surveys were carried out throughout the system.

Although the aquatic habitat is in good condition, it can still be improved. In October 2002, we identified a number of spawning grounds and set to work clearing weed, desilting and introducing tons of spawning gravel. One of the highlights of my year was to observe sea-trout and salmon spawning on these rehabilitated beds. In the coming years we intend to maintain these beds and improve other vitally important streams throughout the system.

As a means of complementing the rehabilitation work, we planted out eyed ova from our wild indigenous sea trout stock into the nursery streams in Jan 2003. The fishery has purchased several deep substrate incubation boxes to house the ova until they reach the swim up stage, whereupon they can escape into the streams. The boxes have proven to be highly successful in the U.K. Ova survival is in the region of 90% and as the fry are already acclimatized to the stream, fry survival is also greater.

Through the combined efforts of catchment management and the use of incubation boxes, I am confident that the productivity of the system will improve, which will be great news for our native stocks and anglers alike.

Terry Gallagher, Fisheries Manager.
Email: cosfer@iol.ie. Tel: +353 (0)91 572196