Anglers seek fishing ban after landslide

ANGLERS are seeking a ban on fishing in a river where thousands of fish died after a landslide two weeks ago.

North Kerry Anglers’ Association and the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board are asking Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Eamon Ryan to introduce a bylaw to halt angling in the River Smearla, an important salmon and sea trout nursery.

Liquefied peat also swamped the three local rivers, where it was estimated a total of 8,000 fish had been wiped out.

The 20-acre landslide occurred in the Kielduff area, in the Stacks Mountains, near Tralee.

The fisheries board and the anglers said a bylaw to suspend angling in the Smearla would help the recovery of salmon and sea trout stocks.

The anglers have also indicated they favour closing the Smearla for the remainder of the 2008 season.

The board is undertaking an electro fishing study, in conjunction with the Central Fisheries Board, to determine the full extent of the fish kill. In a statement, the board asked that any illegal fishing in the affected rivers during the winter months be reported, as the taking of salmon or sea trout would add to the river’s recovery time.

The board’s chief executive, Eamon Cusack, has stated the recovery period could be anything from five to 10 years.

Meanwhile, Kerry County Council is insisting a “minor” bog flow on Wednesday, close to the area where the original landslide occurred on August 23-24, did not constitute a new landslide.

According to the council, some loose peat which had lodged on the banks of the Glashoreag during the original landslide moved downstream and led to a blockage at Scanlon’s bridge.

Council spokesman Padraig Corkery said heavy rain probably led to the latest occurrence. The road at Scanlon’s bridge will be closed for a number of days, but the council said the situation was under control.

A series of dams have been constructed to help prevent further slippages, but it will be some time before a clean-up of the area is complete.