Invasive fish species discovered in Midlands river

Inland Fisheries Ireland has today (Tuesday) confirmed the re-appearance of the invasive fish species Chub on the River Inny, a tributary of the River Shannon, in Longford.

Chub (Squalius cephalus) have the potential to compete with our native fish for food and space, and they are potentially a carrier of diseases and parasites.

Inland Fisheries said it was investigating the extent of the invasion and assessing strategies for eradication and control of the species.

It described the threat of Chub spreading through the Shannon system as a "real and pressing concern" to its biodiversity.

The fish was captured on rod and line at a targeted location identified by IFI staff, who recorded potential sightings at several locations. The initial inspection followed reports submitted to IFI and the National Biodiversity Data Center by members of the public.

Chub are non-native in Ireland, and the River Inny is the only Irish river in which they have been recorded.

The species was subject to removal operations between 2006 and 2010, and it was hoped that Chub had been eradicated.

It is unclear at this stage whether these fish represent growth in the original population or are as a result of a second introduction.

"Ireland's rivers are ecologically important ecosystems, which support significant recreational fisheries for native and established fish species," said Dr Cathal Gallagher, head of research with Inland Fisheries Ireland.

"Non-native fish species threaten these ecosystems and the game and coarse fisheries that they support - potentially in unforeseen ways - and are thus a cause for concern.

"We would appeal to anglers to protect our fisheries by not moving fish between watercourses for any reason and submit any sightings directly to IFI or through the IFI hotline on 1850 34 74 24," he concluded.