Response ID ANON-N9Q3-KEKC-9 Submitted to Significant Water Management Issues Consultation Submitted on 2026-04-09 10:35

Consultation Questions form DAERA Do you think we have correctly identified the significant issues impacting on water resources in Northern Ireland? Yes Please provide details. : Continuation 5 Are there other significant issues we have not captured? Yes Please Provide details of significant issues we have not captured and include your Local Management Area if possible:

Good ecological status must include the habitat needs of salmon and sea trout and value of local angling interests. Critically, protecting rivers as wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout habitat to provide a healthy environment to support fish stocks needs to be a clearly defined WFD objective. Angling is known to provide environmental leisure activities in pleasant surroundings. (£535,827 in2024 value for permit and license sales excluding spend on tackle and accommodation. ( DCAL report Microsoft Word – Draft reportv12.doc.

This report provides evidence that license and permit revenue should be used optimally and aligned to angling club initiatives to support habitat improvement schemes and achievement of WFD goals. In deciding where to allocate allocating funding and resources, the unique socio-economic nature value of individual rivers needs accounted for vs other competing vested interests which potentially compromise fishery salmonid habitat. e.g pollution  and drainage which increases the gradient in gravel rivers to increase run off and cause excessive gravel washout during spates.

The hydro-geo-morphological (HGM) profile needs to be included in the pollution assessments for quality habitat i.e. identifying, quantifying and protecting spawning, nursery and adult holding habitat Spawning habitat needs to be audited as a limiting resource for all rivers to quantify and accommodate the necessary spawning and nursery habitat. ..including invertebrates. Community groups and angling clubs would provide a useful delivery mechanism if supported, financially, and in kind, by the provision of materials, resources. Dedicated DAERA river basin officers in should continue be utilised to provide support to individual rivers within river basin districts and local management areas. Opportunities for river habitat protection ( salmon spawning and nursery habitat) can be offset against agricultural efficiencies where good anti-pollution practices and reduced drainage impacts are demonstrated. For example, incentivise farmers to set aside flood plain areas to accommodate spates and protect salmon gravel spawning habitat. Any agricultural and forestry upland management plans need to be aligned with locally determined WFD, Programmes of Measures (POMs). Assessment of in river habitat impacts as a result of drainage schemes is a necessary programme to fully understand a rivers productivity potential for salmon ( and trout). A unique local individualist approach to individual rivers, accounting for its heritage and particular local environmental needs and opportunities would achieve more than a nationwide algorithmic approach. There is also a clear need for an open data policy to facilitate informed innovative delivery of on the ground projects delivered by conservation community, and angling groups. Farm efficiency schemes should be balanced to facilitate off setting for habitat improvement opportunities such as enabling functioning flood plains, meanders and reduced upland drainage within catchments.

6 What interventions would you suggest to tackle these issues under the following four pillars?a) educationb) incentivisation and innovationc) regulationd) enforcement Please comment on what interventions you suggest to tackle these issues under four pillars a-education,b-incentivisation c regulation and d enforcement : (a) Supported outreach (b) Provide funding/ curriculum integration and sponsorship for WFD green initiatives from local businesses (c) Encourage school awards for delivery of environmental and habitat initiatives (d) deploy sufficient resources to educate and where necessary impose fines.

STEM officers and others to visit schools to discuss WFD priorities. Therefore, it would make sense to provide catchment support officers to each river basin and to support individual river projects that achieve WFD POMS and goals. Continue to support curriculum education via eco schools and extended school projects.

Provide accessible reports of pollution incidents and breaches/ non achievement of WFD POMs. Plan S.M.A.R.T. objectives and report when these haven’t been achieved, in addition to reporting the good news stories of achievements