Concerns over future of River Faughan

The Honourable The Irish Society is proposing to “privatise” angling on the River Faughan, according to Gerry Quinn, secretary of River Faughan Anglers Ltd.

The Society controls fishing rights on the river - a brown trout and salmon fishery - which enters Lough Foyle east of Coolkeeragh power station, on the outskirts of the city. 

“The notion that a company of Londoners can control the fishing rights on our local rivers in this day and age is surely an anachronism of the highest order,” said Mr Quinn.

He was speaking to The Derry News following a “very well attended” extraordinary general meeting (EGM) of River Faughan Anglers at which the Society’s proposals were discussed in detail. 

River Faughan Anglers is the not for profit organisation which works to protect the environment and control and develop angling on the River Faughan and its tributaries. 

Setting out the position of River Faughan Anglers at the EGM, Mr Quinn said the group had organised itself for almost 100 years “in the pursuit of their sport and in the management and conservation of angling and fish stocks on the River Faughan”.

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“Throughout this time, it appears River Faughan Anglers has leased the fishing on the tidal waters, while it has leased the freshwater section from the Society since 1976,” he added.

“During this time, Faughan Anglers hired bailiffs to patrol the river, deter and apprehend poachers, and ensure everyone fishing had a permit. In essence, it was maintaining the ‘asset’ of The Honourable The Irish Society and its claim to the fishing rights. 

“Faughan Anglers carried out access works and maintained the river banks and grass cutting, along the most popular stretches. 

“It also monitored for pollution, often reporting polluters and also defending and protecting the river in court, and indeed taking a case as far as the United Nations,” said Mr Quinn.

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In December 2017, River Faughan Anglers had its complaint over “highly contaminated” settlement lagoons around the river Faughan heard by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Aarhus Convention Committee in Geneva in Switzerland; the Convention established a number of rights of the public with regard to the environment. 

At that time, River Faughan Anglers believed the precious natural resource was not getting the protection it deserved. 

The Commission subsequently presented significant findings of non-compliance with the Aarhus Convention relating to the River Faughan and Tributaries Special Area of Conservation.

Throughout all those years, Mr Quinn said The Honourable The Irish Society had “invested nothing in the river”.

He then accused the Society of making “several bids to privatise the angling” on the River Faughan over the last 25 years. 

He added the Society had brought in various individuals and entities who “presented their plans to replace the local angler with tourist anglers”. 

“Each time the Faughan anglers have resisted these attempts,” said Mr Quinn, “including the most recent manifestation on the Fishpal platform”. 

He added: “Given that River Faughan Anglers was offering day tickets for a fraction of the price listed by the appointed agents of The Honourable The Irish Society, it was quite possible this was one of the drivers for the latest approach by the Society. 

“There is a small group in the background which would dearly love to be able to use the river for their own private gain, but River Faughan Anglers stood in their way, and would continue to obstruct those who wished to capitalise on the voluntary efforts on Faughan Anglers for their own financial benefit. This group would have a connection to The Honourable The Irish Society,” said Mr Quinn. 

Following “lively discussion” at the EGM, Gerry Quinn highlighted River Faughan Anglers was “happy to acknowledge The Honourable The Irish Society claim to the fishing rights and pay for the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their sport going forward”.

“We have already told the Society we neither want or need the rent returned in part or in full,” added Mr Quinn.

“River Faughan Anglers also wishes to retain the right to sell day tickets as is currently the case,” he said.

“In addition, we want to negotiate a longer extension of the current lease which runs out in 2032, though we would still consider buying The Honourable The Irish Society out entirely. 

“In the event the future enjoyment of angling on the Faughan is somehow jeopardised or plans are brought forward suggesting this to be the case, River Faughan Anglers will pursue any and all avenues to protect the rights of Faughan Anglers to fish our river, up to and including challenging The Honourable The Irish Society’s  claim to the fishing rights.

“In the meantime they will work to maintain a working relationship with HIS and examine the potential for cooperation on equal terms.”

The Derry News approached The Honourable The Irish Society for a comment.

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