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2. METHODS – locations and methodologies used
A wide range of strategies was employed in order to try and access as many potential or actual sources of information as possible. These approaches are summarised below.
- Beach seine-netting operations in estuarine areas in July and August to elucidate status of juvenile fish with particular emphasis on twaite shad. This was undertaken in the estuaries of the Slaney, Suir, Barrow-Nore and Munster Blackwater
- Baseline survey in Cork Harbour in September using beach seining with a particular focus on shad and bass, another species whose status is currently a cause of some concern.
- Sampling fish taken at the intake screens at the ESB’s power station at Campile, at the confluence of the Suir with the Barrow.
- Angling for adult shad on R. Barrow and R. Suir. This included site visits to link in with anglers at St. Mullins on the R. Barrow both prior to and at the annual fishing competition there.
- Shad information/assistance request compiled and inserted in website of CFB
- Production of laminated information and contact sheet on shad. This was circulated to commercial netsmen operating draft and snap nets on the Slaney, Suir, Nore, Barrow and Munster Blackwater. Liaison was handled by staff of the RFBs who also acted as contact persons for collection of samples of fish etc. This sheet was also circulated to deep-sea charter boat skippers by staff from CFB Angling Divn. and to Fish Quality Officers of BIM at Dunmore East, a major port for the commercial sea-going fleet in the south-east.
- Liaison with Irish Specimen Fish Committee, to whom samples of twaite shad are sent by anglers claiming ‘specimen’ fish. This provides an additional source of data on biology of this species.
- Selective sampling on L. Leane for juvenile Killarney shad
- Examination by boat of main channels for extent and distribution of sea lamprey spawning effort.
- Fyke netting in estuarine and riverine areas for upstream-migrating river lamprey in late autumn.
- Smelt encountered as by-catch during beach seine-netting operations on Suir and Barrow estuaries.
