Northern Ireland anglers furious as Stormont ignores them over draining of local rivers and lakes

Angling clubs have accused a Stormont department of ‘taking away their voice’ on applications to remove water from Northern Ireland’s rivers, lakes and streams. Fishers up and down the country have serious concerns about rivers being left ‘bone dry’ as a result of abstraction licenses granted for the likes of industry, fish farms and agriculture.

Impacted fisheries had been consulted on “exemption permits” to allow abstraction for over 20 years. But now they say the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has changed the guidance, meaning they will no longer be asked.

But the change didn’t emerge until Crumlin and District Angling Association asked Inland Fisheries why DAERA didn’t consult them over an exemption granted in 2023.

Read more: Surfers and swimmers paddle out in Portrush to demand action on pollution

Read more: Executive decision holding up environmental plan that could help Lough Neagh

David Kennedy, Development Officer at the Crumlin & District Angling Association, said: “The question was asked following serious concerns on the effects of abstraction on the Crumlin River which has left stretches of the river with virtually no water each summer.”

Pictures and footage from the river dating back to 2018 show a largely exposed river bed, leaving the fish pass dry and useless.

Mr Kennedy has met with members from eight other angling clubs to talk about their concerns around pollution, abstraction, water quality and regulations with plans to bring more clubs onboard.

“In terms of abstraction, there are wider issues,” he told us.

“All the clubs at the meeting... are extremely concerned about the change in guidance that local fisheries should to be consulted before an exemption permit, allowing the abstraction of water from the river, is granted by DAERA.

“The guidance, that has been in place since 2003, offered fishing clubs a say in the process allowing them to voice any concerns in terms of impact on the natural environment and the rights and entitlements as angling clubs.

“Shockingly this guidance has been changed with no consultation with our local clubs or notification of any such change to club secretaries by DAERA. It flies in the face of transparency and openness.”

He said DAERA’s response to the concerns they raised about being left out of the loop “beggars belief” as they stated the 21-year-old guidance was ‘incorrect’.

He added: “How no one from DAERA noticed this inaccuracy over a 21-year period is beyond us, especially as it this clause was written in bold lettering in the Department’s own guidance and the application form for a permit.”

Mr Kennedy said he will be writing for Minister Muir to bring the matter to his attention and that “DAERA should reinstate the right to be consulted with immediate effect and indeed consult with local clubs on any further changes to guidance or legislation affecting our waterways”.

A DAERA spokesperson said: “DAERA has recently made amendments to the Inland Fisheries guidance document ‘Guidelines for Water Abstractors’ particularly regarding consultation with directly adjacent fishery owners before issuing exemptions under 54, 58, and 59 of the Fisheries Act.

“These amendments do not impact in any way on the local angling clubs and fishery owners continuing to have a voice or seeking information or raising questions about the current exemptions.

“The text in these documents was intended as guidance for applicants only and does not constitute an agreed policy document or a legal requirement to consult when or before DAERA considers an application for an exemption. DAERA Inland Fisheries had previously recognised the need to make changes to the guidelines to reflect that Inland Fisheries may engage with others during the process.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.