Dept. Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs - Angling in a Digital Age

A fine reward for this happy angler.

sites: licence/permit purchasing, news updates and regulation queries.

Inland Fisheries introduced the electronic licence system in 2016 and without this I’m not sure how we would have coped this year. With all but essential businesses being closed this has allowed anglers to purchase their licence and permits with ease.

We welcomed the news that angling would be considered as an appropriate form of exercise during this pandemic. With mental health being a particular concern, we continue to promote our sport as great outlet for those feeling the negative effects of lockdown and life in general.

We also took stock of our media presence and recently worked with one of Ireland’s premier photographer/ videographers, Gardiner Mitchell. Gardiner has captured the beauty of our sites in high definition drone footage which can be viewed on our departments YouTube channel. This can be found by searching DAERA on YouTube and our newly compiled playlist is found under the playlist tab. We are currently working on more videos and plan to utilise this platform more in the future. Why not subscribe and check for videos showing some of the stunning sites that can be accessed and fished with the appropriate licence and permit. The pictures with this article are stills taken from videos available on our playlist.

In the Department we take pride in our reflective approach to work. Partnering with many skilled teams we look at how we can improve upon the services we offer. With this is mind we are currently working with colleagues on an app to be used by both staff and the public. This app will ensure a more effective service to all and help communicate our infrastructure needs throughout the public angling estate.

Anglers and their Pike caught in an Erne Predator Competition.