The Minister met representatives from the Ards and Down Sea Trout Enhancement Association (ADSEA) and local political representatives and enjoyed a tour of Lough Cowey, which has been identified as a possible site for a hatchery to stock Strangford Lough, should the project go ahead.
The Ards and Down Sea Trout Enhancement Association (ADSEA) was formed in 1995, and represents nine local Co Down angling clubs. The organisation have proposed a project which would see Strangford Lough stocked with sea trout smolts, in an attempt to improve the angling experience and develop angling tourism in the area.
ADSEA has requested a change to the Fisheries Act (NI) 1966 to allow for permits to be sold to generate income to run the proposed hatchery.
The Minister commented "I am pleased to have had this opportunity to discuss ADSEA's proposals in detail. My Department is committed to maintaining and developing angling facilities in Northern Ireland and I am instructing my officials to begin the process of developing policy for amending the Fisheries Act."
Notes to Editors:
The Ards and Down Sea Trout Enhancement Association (ADSEA) was formed in 1995, and represents 9 local Co Down angling clubs. The overall aim of the ADSEA project is to construct a hatchery to produce year old sea trout smolts annually and to hatch fry for stocking into river systems which would be improved to provide additional habitat for sea trout production thereby enhancing the sea trout populations in Strangford Lough. The Lough would be promoted as a major sea trout fishery with the overall aim of developing angling tourism in the area thereby creating jobs and economic benefits to local communities. The project has the support of Local Councils, MPs and MLAs.
Any change to primary legislation, such as the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966, will require a period of public consultation and the agreement of the Assembly. Changes to primary legislation can take around two years.
Any project would of course have to be economically viable, sustainable, technically feasible and obtain all statutory approvals.
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