Improvements set for passage of fish at Limerick Weir
WORK to improve movement of fish through Annacotty Weir has taken a big step forward as consultants are to be appointed to report.
The waterway on the edge of the city has been identified as a significant barrier to the free movement of fish, and it’s hoped this project will see species like Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, river lamprey, eels and trout be able to migrate both upstream and downstream.
Inland Fisheries Ireland has secured €99,481 under a special fund designed to protect river-life.
Now, the agency has published tender documents, seeking a consultant to prepare options on how this project will look.
This options report must consider all environmental and engineering circumstances that are present at the site, upstream and downstream of the weir.
The appointed consultants will then present a preferred option for fish pass improvement works at Annacotty Weir.
They will also be required to attend project meetings and public consultation meetings to outline their findings. Following the approval of the preferred option, the consultants will then be required to prepare design, calculations, and drawings of the preferred option. What will then happen is a planning application will be submitted to Limerick City and County Council.
Green Party councillor for the area Sean Hartigan welcomed the development saying: “As an angler, a councillor and a conservationist, protection of our waterways is one of my main priorities.”