Sir, - The recent news on phosphate pollution in Lough Conn and Lough Cullin is disturbing for all who value our native brown trout. So is the condition of Lough Sheelin.
Lough Sheelin, like loughs Conn and Cullin, is one of the few remaining wild brown trout habitats in Ireland, or indeed Europe. Over the past 30 years it has suffered severe over-enrichment, principally from phosphates.
Despite the efforts of Cavan County Council, the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board and other State bodies, Lough Sheelin remains on the brink of ecological ruin. The native wild brown trout population has dropped to an alarmingly low level. This is in spite of work undertaken with European money to enhance the spawning streams.
It is no longer acceptable for those charged with protecting our environment to dance around the issue of pollution. In order to halt the decline the following measures need to be implemented immediately.
1. A group with statutory power to implement change within each affected area should be set up to co-ordinate the work of the various State bodies, specifically in relation to water pollution.
2. Resources must be made available to a competent authority to investigate the relationship between excess phosphate and the decline in the native wild brown trout population.
3. All domestic cleaning products containing phosphates should be banned immediately.
4. An independent body should regulate agricultural phosphate use.
We cannot allow the extinction of our native wild brown trout population or their habitat. No one ever thought that Lough Conn or Lough Cullin would be threatened by pollution, let alone have their trout population devastated. It is only a matter of time before Mask and Corrib are under the same pressure.
All who value these trout waters must present a united front and put a stop to this threat once and for all. - Yours, etc.,
╔amonn Ross,Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.