‘Catastrophic decline’ in Lough Carra trout stocks

SHOCK figures show that the trout population of Lough Carra have declined by a whopping 75 per cent since 2001, writes Tom Gillespie.

The figures are revealed in a survey of the 4,000 acre lake taken by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) almost a year ago.

Follow an examination of the stock assessment report, Chris Huxley, environmental consultant of international renown, and a member of the Lough Carra Catchment Association (LCCA), said this was ‘very disturbing news’.

LCCA have proposed a €5 million investment, over a five-year period, to ‘restore, protect and conserve the ecological integrity of Lough Carra’.

The IFI survey, undertaken between June 24 and 27 last, resulted in 525 perch, 31 brown trout, 17 pike, one three-spined stickleback and four European eel being captured.

Mr. Huxley stated: “I have just become aware of some very disturbing news about the fish stocks in Lough Carra.

“The conclusion of this recent work is that ‘Lough Carra has been assigned the status of ‘Good for 2019’ based on the fish population present.”

The report states: “The mean brown trout Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) decreased slightly across the four sampling occasions - 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2019.” However, Mr. Huxley added: “The examination of these figures show that the brown trout CPUE actually decreased by exactly 50 per cent over the period 2009 to 2019 (from 0.026 to 0.013). In other words, what IFI refer to as a slight decrease is a reduction in trout numbers by half.

“Since their previous data also showed a reduction of 50 per cent between 2001 and 2009, it has to be concluded that the trout population of Lough Carra has declined by 75 per cent since 2001.”

Mr. Huxley, who with wife Lynda is author of the book ‘Lough Carra’, added: “While there are still many trout in the lough, and anglers sometimes see a good rise, this IFI data shows clearly that, overall, the trout population has suffered a catastrophic decline over the last 20 years. For every trout that existed in 2001, there is now just one in the lough.”

He said the massive increase in perch numbers was not unexpected. And on a positive front, no roach were caught. “That is good news in that it suggests this invasive alien species has not (yet) proliferated the lough.”

* Pictured, Lough Carra. Photo by Lynda Huxley