A Donegal angling club has been given a grant as part of funding of up to €1m available for fisheries conservation.
The Rosses Anglers Association was awarded €16,826 as part of the Craghy/Dungloe stream habitat improvements scheme.
Minister Eamon Ryan has encouraged other Donegal-based projects to apply for the Inland Fisheries Ireland’s ‘Habitats and Conservation Scheme’
Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, is launching a funding call of up to €1 million today to support vital conservation projects around the country.
Since 2016, more than €5 million in grants have been awarded to over 250 projects throughout Ireland under funds administered by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
From today, eligible angling clubs, fishery owners and other stakeholders in Donegal are invited to apply for funding to support fisheries conservation projects through the 2022 ‘Habitats and Conservation’ scheme.
Priority will be given to projects that focus on habitat ‘rehabilitation’ and conservation, such as improving water quality, rehabilitating damaged habitats and helping fish overcome physical barriers, like impassable weirs.
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan T.D., has welcomed the funding call and is encouraging eligible groups and stakeholders in Donegal to apply. He said: “The Habitats and Conservation Scheme is a great example of how we can encourage and support the stewardship role of managing our natural resources across the country. This important environmental scheme supports angling clubs, fishery owners, and stakeholders – in helping them to improve damaged habitats, water quality and fish passage.
“The works and studies supported by the scheme in the future will also result in wider benefits for the environment. As the funding call is now open, I would encourage any eligible group or stakeholder in Donegal to contact Inland Fisheries Ireland and express their interest in applying for this grant before the deadline.”
In 2021, a total of €785,604 in funding was approved for 18 projects, based in Donegal, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Mayo, Roscommon, Wexford, Westmeath and Wicklow.
