Loughs Agency Headquarters, Prehen

Transcription

1 65 th MEETING OF THE FOYLE CARLINGFORD AND IRISH LIGHTS COMMISSION Attendees Wednesday 19 th January 11am Loughs Agency Headquarters, Prehen Present Tarlach O Crosain (Chairman) Joe Miller Denis Haughey John Byrne Enda Bonner Alan McCulla Jim Wilson Winston Patterson Thomas Sloan In Attendance - Loughs Agency Derick Anderson CEO John Pollock Director of Corporate Services Barry Fox Director of Aquaculture and Shellfisheries John McCartney Director of Conservation and Protection Gerard Mills Director of Development Laura French (Minutes) 1. Apologies Jacqui McConville (Vice Chair) John Mulcahy Brendan Byrne 2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting As there wasn t a quorum at the 63 rd Board meeting the minutes of this meeting were provided and considered. The minutes were agreed as an accurate record. Proposed Alan McCulla Seconded Thomas Sloan

2 The minutes of the 64 th record. meeting were agreed as an accurate Proposed Enda Bonner Seconded Denis Haughey 3. Reserved Minutes As there wasn t a quorum at the 63 rd Board meeting the minutes of this meeting were provided and the reserved minutes considered. The reserved minutes were agreed. Proposed Jim Wilson Seconded Joe Miller The reserved minutes of the 64 th meeting were agreed. Proposed Enda Bonner Seconded Denis Haughey 4. Matters Arising Chairman welcomed all Board Members to the meeting and asked if there were any matters arising. All agreed that all matters arising were covered on the agenda. 5. CEO Report RESERVED RESERVED CEO gave a short update on the Agency s pension scheme to the Board. He advised that the Agency had appointed an administrator to help with the finalisation of the proposals and that 8 options had been put to the Departments and the Agency hoped to hear back from the Departments in the next few days. CEO and John Pollock to meet the pension provider on Friday 21 st January Directors Report The Board were provided with updates from the Senior Management Team each giving a brief overview on their respective areas.

3 Development Gerard Mills, Director of Development provided the Board with the following report; Angling Fair Gerard Mills asked for Board approval for the revised budget for the 2011 Angling Fair which was initially 60,000 but had been cut by 3%. Proposed Winston Patterson Seconded Denis Haughey Action points summarised below Legal advice on admissions be sought Venue selected should be Newtownstewart Fair should be costed across all directorates of the Agency. Funding Bids Submitted Ayrshire/Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust (CCGHT)/Loughs Agency. One Environment One Future: Assessment scheduled for June 2010 Outcome feedback attached from SEUPB. SCENE/QUB Project Assessment scheduled for June Outcome to be advised at Board meeting. Compelling a Visit Project filming is now complete with a short editing delay aim to publish by Nov 2010 In Progress Staffing Interreg Marine Tourism Strategy Recruitment is now underway for the posts with the closing date of the 30 th of June was set for applications. However SEUPB will not permit us to appoint staff until DETI have approved their appointment. Sustainable Development Business Case

4 Draft has been sent to Sponsor Departments and DARD economists comments have now been received back and are being addressed. Mill Bay and Narrow Water Projects Mill Bay and Narrow Water projects now completed some delays were experienced with Narrow water as the ground conditions were too cold to lay asphalt. Retention is due to be paid once the one year, defects liability period elapses. Design of site at White Water as part of Mourne Coastal route Design is now complete for the site which lies on the Mourne Coastal route as is used by anglers on the white water with fishing stands adjacent to the site. Agency will seek 50% funding to implement subject to board approval and budgets. Omeath and Carlingford Tidy Towns Project is ready to commence with competitive tendering the costs have reduced significantly to 17k project is onsite and completion is scheduled for the 10 th December Newry Summit Level Canal Survey is now completed and we await the report. Training Conflict awareness training is now completed. Most crew have undergone a two week intensive training to STCW standards with BIM. Strabane Canal Strabane District Council have agreed to work with the Agency in seeking a feasibility study to determine what can be done with the disused canal. Council have agreed to the Agency engaging CPD in the study and a contribution of 30-50k towards this. Seeking Board approval to engage in this partnership. Conservation and Protection John McCartney, Director of Conservation and Protection provided the Board with the following short report; Flood conditions limited angling at the end of the season in both the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The water levels began to settle in late November and this lead to an outbreak of salmon poaching throughout both systems.

5 There have been reports of the more traditional poaching of lamping and tailing in the upper reaches of the Foyle system rivers, and staff have been attempting to tackle this difficult problem. A series of habitat improvement schemes were carried out in 2010, with the first attempts in recent time to revitalise spawning gravels in the upper Finn and Derg rivers. Electrofishing programmes have been completed and the data is being collated, Redd counting has just begun with some early fish redds detected in the Whitewater river. Consultations An updated schedule of Regulations in development and consultations is attached for discussion by the Board members. Board members also have a copy of a reviewed enforcement policy for their consideration. Health and Safety Since the last Board meeting there has been one minor accident. Board members have also been copied a comprehensive review of accidents that have occurred within the Agency in the last three years. This review of accidents has been supplemented with a Health and Safety strategy that mirrors the current Corporate and Business plan period. Fish Counters 2005 Sept 2006 Sept 2007 Sept 2008 Sept 2009 Sept 2010 Sept Faughan Finn Sion Mills Roe Corrick Newry Not Not Not available available available Omagh Not Not Not available available available % Compliance with Management Target to November 2010

6 Enforcement Actions In 2010 so far, Agency staff have dealt with 83 rod related offences, and seizures. Agency protection staff have also seized 136 illegal nets, 11 boats, 128 fish and 25 bags of Oysters as well as various other items. Staff have dealt with 87 pollution incidents, and taken 10 sets of statutory samples. Environmental Issues There have been no further fish kills since the summer period and generally the trend in pollution incidents is down. There appears to be a number of potential hydro electric schemes in early stages of development particularly in the Roe and Camowen catchments. This issue has been discussed within the Agency and as an organisation we still intend to try and ensure compliance with the guidelines as published by the Central Fisheries Board. Staff Accident Summary John McCartney provided the Board with a copy of the above for their information. John advised that this was an audit requirement. Proposed Denis Haughey Seconded Thomas Sloan Aquaculture and Shellfisheries

7 Barry Fox, Director of Aquaculture and Shellfishes provided the Board with the following short report; Regulations The Foyle Area and Carlingford Area (Aquaculture Licensing and Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) Regulations have now been updated by the Agency and are with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval. Once the Management Agreement between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Crown Estates Commission is in place or an agreement in principle is reached, it is anticipated that Regulations will come into force shortly thereafter. Strategic Environmental Assessment The Environmental Report and the Agency s Implementation Strategy are now complete. The Agency has taken onboard comments from various organisations and where possible amended the plans accordingly. The final stage of this process will be to publish the SEA Post Adoption Statement and Implementation Plan. I have provided you all with a copy of the Statement for your information. Management Agreement The Agency met with Crown Estates in London on the 3/12/10. The meeting was positive and the CEC gave a commitment to move forward with the management agreement once DAFF s proposals are available. The Agency will meet with DAFF in the next month and it is hoped to have a joint meeting with CEC and DAFF soon thereafter. Lough Foyle Public Oyster Fishery Fishermen in the Lough Foyle oyster fishery have landed 93.5 tones based on logbook returns to December The Agency believes that the gross tonnage landed is an under estimate of the returns from the fishery due to a number of licensees not returning their logbook information. Monitoring Vessel The MMV Ostrea is working well and continues to monitor the fisheries in Lough Foyle. The native oyster survey has been completed using the Ostrea and the results of this will be presented to you today. New propellers have been purchased for the vessel and should be installed in the near future. A work plan

8 for the Ostrea is currently in development and will be available for the next Board meeting of Staffing The Aquaculture and Shellfish Officer post has been advertised and the applicants shortlisted. The interviews for this position will take place on the 27 th January. The Aquaculture and Shellfish Monitoring Officers position has been advertised and the closing date for applications is the 21 st January. Bonamia Ostreae Infection in Lough Foyle The Agency continues to monitor oyster beds to identify the extent of the spread of bonamia. Monthly samples are being taken to monitor monthly infection levels. This is being done collaboratively with University College Cork. Carlingford Lough Sanitary Survey The first draft of the Carlingford Lough sanitary survey has been completed by Aquafact. The project is on track and should be finalised by April Corporate Services John Pollock, Director of Corporate Services provided the Board with the following report; Financial Statements and Audit The 2008 financial statements have been signed by the C&Ags North and South now at design and print stage. The 2009 financial statements have been signed by the CEO/Accounting Officer and are still with the C&Ags for final certification and sign off. Audit Committee meeting held on 15 th December 2010 no quorum see attached minutes. Internal audit have completed their audit and provided a draft report for consideration by the Agency. Corporate Governance Risk management meeting scheduled for October 2010 was postponed and will be scheduled for early NSMC NSMC Sectoral meeting scheduled for 1 st December was postponed it is proposed to hold the next before the end of March Staffing

9 Staffing loading review on hold pending outcome of CEO organisational review paper. 1 vacancy (SFO) grade Aquaculture Officer interviews due to be held before end of January vacancy for GIS officer to cover maternity leave complete due to commence 1 st Feb Aquaculture and shellfish Monitoring Officer closing date 21 st January Annual Report 2009 Annual Report complete and awaiting sign off of accounts before publication. Pensions Discussions ongoing with the Departments of Finance and Revenues North and South. Pension administrator appointed Advisory Forum Next meeting scheduled for 9 th March Corporate Plan Business Plan 2011 CEO provided the Board with a copy of the above for their information. CEO wished to thank John Pollock and Kevin Wilson for all their hard work and efforts into getting the final version of the Plans completed. CEO asked for Board approval for the above. Proposed Winston Patterson Seconded Alan McCulla 8. Moville / Greencastle Sewage Scheme John McCartney provided the Board with a short update on the current position with the above. John advised that the Agency have limited statutory remit in relation to this scheme and are simply a consultee. The Chairman stated that he would rather that the Agency could be proactive rather than reactive but understood that we were merely a consultee but asked that his unhappiness at the way that this was being handled was noted. 9. Halloween Evaluation John Pollock, Director of Corporate Services provided the Board with the above evaluation and advised that again this year this

10 event was a great success and thanked Gillian Simpson, Michael Cosgrove and the other staff involved for their hard work. Winston Patterson praised the work of Agency staff advising it was an excellent event. 10. Irish and British Fly Fair Evaluations Gerard Mills, Director of Development provided the Board with the above report for their information. 11. Louth Coastal Walk and Cycle Trial Gerard Mills provided the Board with a letter from Kevin Woods of the Tourism and Heritage group in Carlingford in relation to the above. Gerard advised that the above group sought the support of the Agency to develop a strategic coastal path from Omeath to Greenore and onwards down the Louth Coastline. The Group were not seeking funding but support in principle at this stage. It is hoped that a significant portion of the capital costs may be sourced via cable relaying work planned for the area. 12. Strabane Canal Redevelopment Gerard Mills reported to the Board that the Agency had been working with Strabane District Council on how to make sections of the Strabane Canal more useable and had engaged with Central Procurement Directorate to complete a scoping exercise. Gerard added that Strabane District Council had ring fenced 30,000-50,000 to commission this study in full but the Agency required Board approval to enter into this agreement. CEO added that Strabane District Council have been extremely helpful in regard to this project. Jim Wilson raised concern about the feasibility study and to what cost projects like this can stretch to. Gerard advised that this was 100% funded by Strabane District Council but 50,000 was the maximum they would be spending, that it wasn t open ended and it was being very carefully managed. Winston Patterson advised that he had been involved with another body who had been doing work on the Canal which was now complete and supported the project. Joe Miller also advised that he was aware of the project and supported this work.

11 Chairman asked how long the section of the Canal was that the Council and Agency were working on and if the conditions were right could this be developed as a coarse fishery. Gerard advised that the section was 1,100m long and yes it could be a very good venue for match fishing and as it was relatively shallow could also be used for canoeing. Proposed Winston Patterson Seconded Joe Miller 13. Mill Bay and Narrow Water Amenity Sites This was covered under item 6 by Gerard Mills Director of Development. 14. Interreg Advance Requests Gerard Mills asked for Board approval to drawdown 500,000 of the above funds. Proposed Denis Haughey Seconded Winston Patterson 15. Letter from Blacksessiagh Regeneration Group CEO provided the meeting with a letter from the above group acknowledging the Agency s outstanding contribution and support in relation to the Creevan Burn Enhancement Scheme and for the suggestion to enter the UK Conservation Protect Award in which they received Runner Up. CEO added that the Group wished to thank Inspector Seamus Cullinan for his invaluable work on the scheme and Andrew Sides, Development Officer who assisted at the awards and presentation. CEO praised the work of Seamus and Andrew and advised the Board that the group were mainly made up of local farmers. Winston Patterson congratulated the Agency on an excellent project. 16. Enforcement Policy John McCartney provided the Board with a copy of the above which he had rewritten and asked for the approval to implement the changes. Proposed Winston Patterson

12 Seconded Denis Haughey 17. Presentation by Ciarán McGonigle on Native Oyster Survey Ciarán McGonigle, Fisheries Research Officer with the Loughs Agency provided the Board with a short presentation on the above. This was followed by a questions and answers session from the Board. The Board thanked Ciarán for a very comprehensive report. 18. A.O.B National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland Gerard Mills, Director of Development provided the Board with a letter from the above group requesting sponsorship for the team to go to Italy for the 2011 World Fishing Games. Gerard suggested that the Agency provided some funding but not to the extent that it has done in previous years due to current budget cuts. Gerard suggested 1,000 and suggested that they could also contact Inland Fisheries Ireland for support. The Board agreed with this view. Proposed Alan McCulla Seconded Jim Wilson Promotional Shows 2011 Gerard Mills provided the meeting with a business case from Lionel Knobbs, Angling Development Manager for the above 6 shows for 2011 and asked for their approval to the value of just under 15,000. Jim Wilson reported that he had heard great reports from anglers who attend these shows and are always delighted to see Loughs Agency in attendance. Proposed Joe Miller Seconded Jim Wilson Fish Count Summary John McCartney, Director of Conservation and Protection provided the Board with a copy of the above report for 2010 for their information. Jim Wilson thanked John McCartney for the very useful report. Angling Academy Report John Pollock, Director of Corporate Services provided the Board with the above report for their information and advised that this was an interim report for 2010 as the exercise wasn t completed

13 due to adverse weather but this would be completed in early 2011 and a full report would then be presented. 19. Date and Venue of Next Meeting The next meeting of the Board will be held on Wednesday 23 rd March 2011 at Loughs Agency Offices, Carlingford.