Loughs Agency delivers £282,658 worth of extensive fisheries improvement works to 20 projects in Tyrone

AS the fishing season approaches its end for 2025, new figures just released reveal that the Loughs Agency, the body tasked with the job of sustainably managing, promote and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford catchment areas, has spent £282,658 on 20 projects here.

As part of its Fisheries and Angling Improvement Strategy, the body has spent the money on enhancement works in rivers and tributaries in areas including Omagh, Castlederg, Glenhull and Donemana, to improve fish habitats, protect riverbanks, promote sustainable land, and water management.

Stocks of salmon, sea trout and eels have declined rapidly in the last 30 years, and these species are now listed as endangered in some parts of the UK. The Foyle catchment is one of the most productive areas for Atlantic salmon left in the whole of Europe. Loughs Agency’s work is critical in addressing the issues that are driving local productivity bottlenecks such as poor land use, excess nutrient levels, sedimentation, habitat degradation, and poor water quality. Consistent improvements of these local pressures on our river’s ecosystems will contribute to increased stocks of juvenile fish species by protecting the food web these species depend on and increasing the habitats they need to survive through an era of climate change.

Many of the rivers in the Foyle catchment have been designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) to protect populations of Atlantic salmon as well as other priority species and habitats. The improvement works Loughs Agency carry out will help to contribute to meeting the conservation objectives of these SAC rivers. These works will also help with the achievement of the targets laid down under the Water Framework Directive which seeks to improve water quality in these rivers to good ecological status.

Loughs Agency’s management of salmon fisheries is designed to comply with the fundamental principles of NASCO. These principles and objectives are to promote the diversity and abundance of salmon stocks and maintain all stocks above their Conservation Limits. Loughs Agency uses an audit point management system for Atlantic salmon to inform management regimes and set conditions for fisheries in the rivers in the Foyle and Carlingford catchments. The audit point management system allows for the collection and collation of information on Atlantic salmon at various lifecycle stages. The system allows for real-time and predicted stock assessments to be made which in turn inform fisheries management.

Loughs Agency aims to maximise resilience in salmonid populations in the face of rapid environmental change by maintaining the genetic diversity and the complex life histories of wild populations and ensuring natural reproduction. Loughs Agency advocates the mitigation of threats to Atlantic salmon survival through the implementation of relevant restoration actions which will address threats on a river-by-river basis. Restoration of habitat quality, quantity and accessibility is the primary focus of our work to improve Atlantic salmon populations. With a combined investment totalling over £280,000 Loughs Agency, working with local stakeholders, implemented a mix of riparian and instream habitat improvements across 20 key projects. These efforts enhance waterway health, boost biodiversity and reduce erosion and sedimentation impacts.

Across the projects, over 8.4kms of riparian fencing and multiple fencing repairs were completed to create buffer zones and exclude livestock from sensitive habitats. Livestock gates, access stiles, solar-powered pumps, concrete troughs and drinking water systems were installed to ensure safe livestock access and water supply. Thousands of native trees were planted to stabilise riverbanks, reduce runoff and provide shade and cover for fish and invertebrates.

Instream enhancements included the addition of spawning gravel, gravel regrading, pinned woody material, vortex weirs, rubble mats, bankside stability works, leaky dams and soft engineering solutions. These natural engineering measures improve flow conditions, enhance spawning and nursery habitats, and strengthen the resilience of local river ecosystems.

Sharon McMahon, chief executive at Loughs Agency, said: “The Fisheries Improvement works across Co. Tyrone are a vital step in achieving one of our core objectives, which is to protect and conserve the fisheries and rivers we manage. By investing in natural solutions and collaborating with local landowners and anglers, we are protecting vital fish habitats, supporting sustainable fisheries and increasing the environmental and economic value of our waterways. This work builds on our commitment to both the Foyle and Carlingford catchments and compliments our work to educate and raise awareness of the value of healthy and productive ecosystems and we will continue to deliver projects that benefit people, wildlife and the local economy.”

Tyrone Fisheries Improvement Projects

Total investment: £282,658

Number of projects: 20

Strule Catchment (upstream of Omagh)

l Glusagh Burn Fisheries Improvement Project – £10,980 – Instream and Riparian – 390m fencing, 1 livestock gate, 50m pinned woody material, 20m live willow planting, 60t large rubble

l Cloughfin Fisheries Improvement Project – £7,380 – Instream and Riparian – 45m fencing, 150 trees, 1 livestock gate, 1 solar-powered pump, 1 drinking water trough, 55m bankside stability improvement

l Cloughfin Foremass Fisheries Improvement Project – £8,970 – Riparian – 550m fencing, 1 livestock gate, 2 stiles

l Brackagh Burn Fisheries Improvement Project – £22,056 – Instream and Riparian – 340m fencing, 150 trees, 2 livestock gates, 1 solar-powered pump, 1 drinking water trough, 40m bankside stability improvement, 4 vortex weirs

l Routing Burn Fisheries Improvement Project – £32,436 – Instream and Riparian – 1,605m fencing, 500 trees, 4 livestock gates, 5 solar-powered pumps, 5 drinking water troughs, 80m bankside stability improvement, 10m fence repairs

l Glennamuck Fisheries Improvement Project – £35,880 – Instream and Riparian – 1,070m fencing, 2 livestock gates, 1 solar-powered pump, 2 drinking water troughs, 220m bankside stability improvement, 2 vortex weirs, gravel regrading

l Quiggery Fisheries Improvement Project – £37,428.00 – Instream and Riparian – 1,020m fencing, 200 trees, 4 livestock gates, 1 solar-powered pump, 2 drinking water troughs, 190m bankside stability improvement, 2 cattle crossings, 32t rubble mats, 3 vortex weirs, gravel regrading

l Drumragh Seskinore Fisheries Improvement Project – £13,506 – Riparian – 885m fencing, 1 livestock gate, 1 pump, 2 troughs, 2 stiles

l Aghlisk Fisheries Improvement Project – £10,200 – Riparian – 570m fencing, 4 vortex weirs, 1 access gate, 1 stile

Derg Catchment (upstream of Castlederg)

l Derg Glashagh Fisheries Improvement Project – £5,832 – Instream – 60t spawning gravel

l Derg Fisheries Improvement Project – £23,127 – Riparian – 1km fencing, 4 access gates, 1 livestock gate, 1 solar-powered pump, 4 drinking water troughs, repair of 1 angler access stile, 1 stile, 750 trees

l Meenbog Fisheries Improvement Project – £9,419 – Instream and Riparian – 90m fencing, pinned woody material, 160m trees planted, 24m drain clearing, 2 leaky dams

l Leaghaney Fisheries Improvement Project – £3,480 – Instream – 40t limestone rubble mats at 4 locations

Owenkillew and Glenelly Catchments (Upstream of Gortin and Plumbirdge)

l Glenhull Fisheries Improvement Project – £13,500 – Instream and Riparian – 1 pump, 1 trough, 1 access stile, 100m soft engineering, 300 trees

l Owenreagh East Fisheries Improvement Project – £19,560 – Instream and Riparian – 1,050m fencing, 70m soft engineering, 600 trees

l Glenlark Burn Fisheries Improvement Project – £720 – Instream – 3 limestone rubble mats, 50t limestone

l Glenelly Burn Fisheries Improvement Project – £12,360 – Instream and Riparian – 100m fencing, 100m bankside stability improvement, 1 livestock gate

Burn Dennett Catchment (upstream of Donemana)

l Pottery Mill Fisheries Improvement Project – £7,058 – Instream and Riparian – 200sqm gravel regrading, 40t gravel addition

l Silverbrook Mill Fisheries Improvement Project – £5,664 – Instream – 3 beds gravel regrading, 65m soft engineering, 200t gravel addition, 300 trees, 5 vortex weirs

l Dunnyboe Fisheries Improvement Project – £3,102 – Riparian – 1 solar-powered pump, 2 drinking water troughs

For more information on the fisheries improvement works carried out by Loughs Agency, visit: https://www.loughs-agency.org