FISHERIES AWARENESS WEEK CONFERENCE 2009

“Shannon Waters - Managing Fisheries in Challenging Times” – 30th April 2009
The Strand Hotel, Limerick

The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board is hosting a one-day conference in the Strand Hotel Limerick on 30th April 2009, focusing on some of the key challenges facing our fisheries natural resource in these difficult times.

The conference is the highlight of Fisheries Awareness Week and is an opportunity for stakeholders and anyone with an interest in our inland waters to learn about the major issues facing fish and their complex environment. Our expert speakers will highlight the importance of our aquatic resources at community level and will seek to promote best practice amongst stakeholders. An important element of the conference will be the exchange of current knowledge and ideas amongst resource managers, scientists and the general public including encouraging the implementation of new ideas into the day to day operations and policies of the diverse groups responsible for, and interested in, the management of our fisheries resources.

Mr. Michael Callaghan, Chairperson of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, outlining the importance of the conference, stated that “Managing our fisheries resource is becoming more complex, requiring new work methods, knowledge and skills to deal with old and new threats to our waters. Constraints on resources demand that our work must be done efficiently and where possible we must utilise innovative funding and partnership opportunities. Now more than ever we need to work smarter, utilise our funding more efficiently and work with our stakeholders. This conference gives our stakeholders an opportunity to understand the threats to our fisheries and how best to preserve and improve this vital national resource.”
The Conference will review the thorny question of how best to rebuild our native fish stocks, through either hatchery stocking or natural interventions. The health of coarse fish stocks will be explored as will the impact on angling of introduced Alien species. Many questions have been raised as to the effects of seals and cormorants on wild fisheries and some interesting facts have been uncovered and will be discussed at this conference.

The Conference will also address Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICWs), can they benefit our waters and what will be the new challenges arising if ICWs are further developed?

Mr. Eamon Cusack, Chief Executive Officer of The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board stated that; “this conference promises an exciting mix of stimulating discussions on challenges which face us today. One of the key messages will be that our fisheries environment is constantly changing and we who work in this area must adapt. As the aquatic environment changes and our knowledge increases, then we must act together and pool our resources to secure its future.”

Details of the conference and information on how to book contact our office at 061 300238

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DOWNLOAD SEMINAR BROCHURE HERE ENTITLED 'SHANNON WATERS - MANAGING FISHERIES IN CHALLENGING TIMES'