Dunlaoghaire-Rathdown restrict angling to designated areas??

I have to support Tom and Keiran on this, cool, calm and collected is the way forward. I can assure you that the IFSA will not be found wanting on this issue.
Regards
Tim.

saw someone fishing on killiney today, from the kayak. couldn't help noticing the lifeguards having frequent chats with him. theres fight in us yet :!: :twisted:

Can we get a Pre written letter of complaint for this guys.

I'm not living in the area but I know people that do I'll email it up to them and get them to send it off.

any local media interest?

Guys,

Received the email below. Will let you know what else comes out of it.

Steven

***********************


Dear Steve,
I have forwarded your email to Roger Garland, Chairman KIO who deals with the Councils. We have many contacts in DLRD CC and he could possibly get you further information or set up a meeting. Roger can also be contacted at 01 4934239. I can only assume the ban is for health & safety reasons but there is no harm in pursuing the matter as a resolution/compromise is always possible. As you know outdoor recreation is under threat all over the country and every genuine outdoor pursuit is worth fighting for and preserving. You can also look at our website http://www.info@keepirelandopen.org for further information and possibly consider becoming a member of KIO.

Regards

Michael Carroll

Secretary KIO.

I would like to see exactly what those health and safety reasons might be. Has there been a problem with people's health? Has somebody been injured? Or is it just the potential? If so, I can think of a whole load of other activities that could be restricted to designated areas. There's risk attached to pretty much anything to do with the sea, and I would think that fishing in general has less risk than most other water sports, including swimming. This country is going crazy.

I would like to see exactly what those health and safety reasons might be. Has there been a problem with people's health? Has somebody been injured? Or is it just the potential? If so, I can think of a whole load of other activities that could be restricted to designated areas. There's risk attached to pretty much anything to do with the sea, and I would think that fishing in general has less risk than most other water sports, including swimming. This country is going crazy.

It's down to the stipulations of the blue flag beach standards, and the heading is Health and Safety, have a look back at the post where I pointed it out already.
Regulation would seek to stop bad things happening, it doesn't mean that there is any precedent, there doesn't need to be.

I see what you mean. Some of the best bass beaches in the country are blue flag beaches. Does this mean that other councils will soon follow suit? Seems very short-sighted considering they're effectively banning angling tourism in certain areas. I don't see why management of different activities has to mean designating areas for them, surely a more sensible management approach could be found. It strikes me that the council in question has very little understanding of angling, both angling as a sport, and its importance to the economy. Surely the blue flag beach criteria are referring more to activities such as jet-skiiing, etc. which are obviously dangerous for other beach users?

I know much of this has been mentioned before. An Taisce are the organisation that assess the blue flag beaches aren't they? Has anyone on the committee given them a call to ask what their policy is regarding this issue?

The International Blue Flag Programme is carried out by the member organisations of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). An Taisce is the national operator for the International Blue Flag Programme in Ireland.

More here

http://antaisce.org/projects/blueflag.html

If the banning of Angling is a requirement for achieving Blue Flag Status, then we need to put the powers that be on notice that we're going to oppose granting Blue Flag Status to ALL beaches............ hmmmmm. :?

If the banning of Angling is a requirement for achieving Blue Flag Status, then we need to put the powers that be on notice that we're going to oppose granting Blue Flag Status to ALL beaches............ hmmmmm. :?

I don't think it is, I think they are taking a very heavy handed approach to enforcing the blue flag criteria, it's open to interpretation.
They don't mention anything about banning anything in fairness. ( "they" being the blue flag people)
It seems DLRCOCO would consider the easiest way to do it is to ban it unless in certain areas. Sounds like a lazier more easily manageable approach.

I'm sure the council can be made to see sense. Good luck to those involved with sorting it out.

From the Blue Flag Criteria 2006-2007:

23. There must be management of different users and uses of the beach so as to prevent
conflicts and accidents
Beaches that support multiple activities should manage the different conflicting and incompatible needs of
different users to prevent accidents and conflicts. This could include zoning for swimmers, surfers, wind
surfers and motorised craft. At the same time, recreational use of the beach must be considerate of and
managed with respect for nature, atmosphere, and aesthetics.
Swimmers should be protected from all sea craft (whether using motor, sail or pedals). Where necessary,
zoning should be made clear with the use of buoys, beacon or signs. The same should be done for surfing
areas. Distinctions should be made between motorised craft and paddle or sail craft. The use of these
various activities should be separated.
Power boats and powered craft should in general operate at least 100-200 meters away from the swimming
area. The exact distance is to be determined by the local regulatory/competent agency. Furthermore,
patrons who operate powered craft should be provided with some orientation on the use of the craft and the
location of different zones.
Lifeguards (if present) must enforce the zoning of the different recreational areas in the water.
Consideration should also be given to potential noise nuisances from some activities (motorised activities,
stereos and kites are some examples).
If special events are to be held on the beach then these should be located outside of the main swimming
areas.
Different activities on the beach must also be clearly marked and zoned.
In the case that special activity events prevent the beach from upholding the Blue Flag criteria, then the flag
must be withdrawn for the duration of the event. If such an event will take place, the public users of the
beach should be notified of the upcoming event through public warnings, at the beach and preferably in the
local media prior to the event.
Conflicts between recreational uses and nature conservation must also be considered and managed. It is
unacceptable that recreational activities induce environmental degradation such as increased coastal
erosion, irreversible damage to vegetation, tearing of seaweed from the sea bottom by anchoring leisure
boats, pollution from their toilet tanks, and the disturbance of birds and other wildlife by motor craft.
The beach itself must be managed in an environmentally friendly manner that protects sensitive species and
habitats at the beach (can be accomplished through zoning or with other preventive actions). Beaches used
for turtle nesting must be without artificial lighting or have appropriate lighting. There should be fixed places
for raising umbrellas, so that the eggs are not damaged. Beaches with sensitive dune habitats must be
managed in an environmentally friendly way, for instance with protecting fences.
Some beach sites may prove particularly sensitive and thus require careful planning and management of
use. In such cases, evidence must be provided to show that recognised local conservation organisations or
interests have been approached for advice and consultation and that the interests of protected sites and rare
or protected species have been satisfactorily addressed.
In conclusion, it may be necessary to restrict, disperse or otherwise manage certain activities, both for the
purpose of ensuring the enjoyment and safety of other beach users and for the purpose of nature protection.
This protection must be done for the visitors’ safety and for the quality recreation of their body and soul, to
prevent the beach from becoming a noisy play ground. Furthermore the protection is done to protect flora
and fauna from too intensive use of the beach.
Besides the use of physical separation of the different users, zoning should be clearly indicated on the map
on the beach information board and information could also be given at access and entry points.

No mention of zoning for angling anywhere. The emphasis seems to be more on protecting swimmers from water craft, and on preventing nuisance activities such as stereos, etc. I wonder which one the council thinks angling is, dangerous or a nuisance?

I was talking to an ex-blue flag manager yesterday evening. She had never heard of anything like this. They would never have looked for restrictions on angling as part of the blue flag criteria. She reckoned the committee should contact the current blue flag manager, Lucy Hunt, to get her line on this. Her contact details are:

Lucy Hunt, Blue Flag Manager,
An Taisce, 5A Swift’s Alley, Francis Street, Dublin 8
Tel: 01 400 2210 Fax: 01 454 1802 E-mail: blueflag@antaisce.org

I was talking to an ex-blue flag manager yesterday evening. She had never heard of anything like this. They would never have looked for restrictions on angling as part of the blue flag criteria. She reckoned the committee should contact the current blue flag manager, Lucy Hunt, to get her line on this. Her contact details are:

Lucy Hunt, Blue Flag Manager,
An Taisce, 5A Swift’s Alley, Francis Street, Dublin 8
Tel: 01 400 2210 Fax: 01 454 1802 E-mail: blueflag@antaisce.org

I tried to contact Lucy yesterday, but she was out of the office
jd

I talked to Lucy this morning. She will get back to me later, but essentially different types of users should be accomodated on blue flag beaches, by designated areas if necessary.

Hi John,

I just spoke to her as well, she told me you had phoned, I'd be very thankful if you could keep us or at least me informed as to what is happening, as I said she doesn't need to keep me up to date personally as she'd mentioned that you called.

Cheers.
Eoin.

So she is saying that angling should be accomodated? Did she question whether designating areas for angling is necessary, or was she simply repeating the guidelines? There's an interesting report on the Failte Ireland website. Angling comes in third in tourist participation behind walking and golf. The importance of this to the economy cannot be underestimated. I'm sure an actual value in terms of revenue exists somewhere, but I have yet to find it.

http://www.failteireland.ie/Research--- ... Facts.aspx

Essentially different users on a beach should be managed, by zoning if necessary. She will get back to us later.
jd

Essentially different users on a beach should be managed, by zoning if necessary. She will get back to us later.
jd

So they can zone anglers off into a corner somewhere and say "that's your bit over there, all the rest is for swimmers, that bit is for surfers, jetskis out there........" and we're effectively banned from angling where we want.

Not good enough, in my opinion. The right to fish where and when we want should not be compromised in any way.

There is a bit more to it than that Gerry. I think the beach would be zoned where /when it is necessary.
Pm sent.