Ambiguity over the easing of foot-and-mouth restrictions for anglers was a "time-bomb" and was eroding confidence among tourist anglers, a meeting of the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board heard.
Most rivers in the Cork and Kerry region were not open, despite Government advertisements that Ireland was open for angling. While State-run fisheries will open tomorrow, private fisheries might not, the meeting in Kenmare, Co Kerry, was told on Tuesday night.
Farmers were divided on the issue of allowing anglers through their lands from today, the meeting heard. Some farmers were fencing off paths to keep anglers away from animals, while others were refusing entry.
"We are going to destroy our tourist industry if we are telling anglers the rivers are open and they are not," said Mr John O'Hare, who represents trout anglers on the board.
Fear of litigation and of having to pay compensation was leading Government departments and agencies to issue unclear guidelines, Mr O'Hare said.
Angling could start again from tomorrow, but some private fisheries would choose not to reopen, said Mr Aiden Barry, the CEO of the board.
He said anglers were required to use "common sense" and to act responsibly and not go near susceptible animals. Fishery board inspectors were talking to farmers.
However, the coarse-angling representative on the board, Mr Richard Wheatley, warned that some farmers had decided to allow local anglers to fish, but to exclude those from the UK and the Netherlands.
The lack of clear advice was leading to deep division among farmers. "It's a time-bomb at the moment," Mr Wheatley said.
An open-air ecumenical service with 300 children from local schools will celebrate the end of foot-and-mouth restrictions in Killarney tomorrow morning.
The service, organised by Duchas, Muckross House and Killarney of the Welcomes, a marketing group, will take place against a backdrop of mountain, lake and woodland.
Muckross House and its gardens are part of the Killarney National Park and receive over a million visitors a year.
The town has been badly hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis. Estimated losses of £150 million in the Killarney area alone are still valid, Mr Sean Coyne, chairman of Killarney of the Welcomes, said yesterday.