Countryside Alliance Ireland has submitted a comprehensive response to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) consultation on the proposed Fisheries and Water Environment Bill. The response highlights significant concerns regarding the impact of the proposals on rural communities, inland fisheries, aquaculture, and recreational angling, while stressing the need for evidence-based and proportionate regulation.
While supporting measures aimed at protecting waterways, our response emphasises that penalties for water pollution must be applied fairly and proportionately. Maximum fines of £50,000 for summary offences and unlimited fines for the most serious cases were considered appropriate, but only if they target deliberate or repeated polluters rather than accidental incidents or minor breaches. We also support a more flexible enforcement system, including variable and fixed penalties for minor to moderate offences, provided these are applied transparently and with appeal mechanisms.
The consultation response strongly criticises the accompanying draft Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which we argue significantly underestimate the social, economic, and environmental consequences of the proposals. Reduced access to publicly stocked angling waters, a decline in fish stocking programmes, and diminished support for voluntary hatcheries and angling clubs could disproportionately affect rural communities, low-income groups, and people with disabilities. Angling is not only a popular recreational pursuit but also an important contributor to rural tourism, local economies, and community wellbeing.
Countryside Alliance Ireland also highlights the potential misalignment between the proposed Bill and existing fisheries management policies, particularly the Lough Erne and Lough Neagh Fishery Management Plans, which have long been treated as aspirational rather than legally enforceable. The response calls for these plans to be given statutory backing, alongside clear objectives for promoting public angling access, supporting voluntary hatcheries, and developing sustainable aquaculture.
We stress that sustainable aquaculture has played a vital role in maintaining healthy fish populations and supporting riverine ecosystems. Contrary to assumptions in the Bill, aquaculture has minimal negative environmental impact when properly managed and provides essential monitoring of water quality year-round. Over-regulation risks undermining both conservation and economic development objectives.
In conclusion, Countryside Alliance Ireland urges DAERA to adopt a balanced, evidence-led approach, ensuring that inland fisheries and aquaculture are regulated in a manner that protects the environment while supporting rural communities, recreational anglers, and sustainable development. The full response details recommendations for enforcement, regulatory powers, and stakeholder engagement, providing a clear framework for achieving the aims of the Bill without unintended consequences.
We urge members to take part in the consultation here.