News item
Lough Corrib to welcome the new Lagarosiphon major weed cutting boat.
Update: Cutting of Lagarosiphon major beds has now commenced.
The Central Fisheries Board, in cooperation with the Western Regional Fisheries Board and National Parks and Wildlife Service, are delighted to announce that the long awaited Lagarosiphon major weed cutting boat is to arrive on Lough Corrib on Tuesday 1st of April 2008.
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The new OSMA weed cutting boat's maiden voyage on Lough Corrib.
The ‘OSMA’ weed cutter was built in Italy and meets many of the critical specifications required to effectively tackle the highly invasive weed Lagarosiphon major. Staff from the Central and Western Fisheries Boards, along with interested personnel from the NPWS, the OPW, Galway County Council, the WRBD and other organizations will be on Lough Corrib on Tuesday 1st of April 2008 (weather permitting) to observe preliminary trials using this new boat. Anybody interested in observing at first hand the operation of this new craft should take the opportunity to attend the trials.
Lagarosiphon is a southern African submerged plant that was introduced to Ireland in contained ornamental garden ponds and aquaria as an oxygenating plant. It was first discovered in significant quantities in the wild in Ireland in 2005. Unfortunately this is an aggressive alien plant species which can take over the habitat of native Irish plant species very quickly. Once established the plant has the capacity to significantly alter the ecology of the infested watercourse. Because it can grow very rapidly, it readily displaces native aquatic plants and insects. The density of the vegetation present can restrict the movement of fish, angling boats and cruisers.
The introduction of this NPWS-sponsored weed cutting boat represents a major step in the battle to control and, if possible, eradicate this highly aggressive, invasive plant. This has been an issue to the fore in the minds of many local people, politicians and anglers. The introduction of this boat is a demonstration of the commitment of the agencies involved in the eradication of the weed on Lough Corrib.
That work has been ongoing behind the scenes and will continue until the weed in Lough Corrib has been brought under control.
Ends…….
For more information please contact the Central Fisheries Board (01) 8842600 website: www.cfb.ie for local contacts please contact Greg Forde, of the Western Regional Fisheries Board or Kevin Crowley on (091) 563118
For Media Enquires
Linda Mc Kenny, Central Fisheries Board, Swords Business Campus, Swords, Co. Dublin Tel: 01 8842639, Mobile: 087 3294440 Email: linda.mckenny@cfb.ie
Website: www.cfb.ie
Notes to Editor:
The Central Fisheries Board (CFB) is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act 1980.
Its principal functions are to advise the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on policy relating to the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries and sea angling, to co-ordinate and provide specialist and support services to the Regional Fisheries Boards and to advise the Minister on the performance by the Regional Fisheries Boards.
