A fin-tastic comeback

Marguerite Kiely

After a 5 year hiatus, carp fishing has finally returned to The Lough. The freshwater lake suffered a significant fish kill in May 2018 caused by the Carp Edema Virus (CEV).

99.9% of all carp in The Lough were wiped out at the time, as were a similar proportion of the stock of the nearby Belvelly Lake, a private carp fishery in Cobh. This led to the implementation and enforcement of a precautionary ban on angling at The Lough by Cork City Council which stayed in place for 5 years.

However, 2 rounds of health testing in March 2022 and, more recently, April 2023 by the Marine Institute have both confirmed that the virus is no longer present in the lake. Therefore, as the lake no longer poses a fish biosecurity risk, recreational angling has now returned to the lake.

Speaking to the Cork Independent, aquatic ecologist and Cork Carp Anglers Club secretary Bill Brazier said that both he and the club are thrilled to welcome back carp fishing to the city centre lake and said the public reaction has been “overwhelmingly positive”.

“As a club with a wide range of members from children to elderly adults, we are delighted to see recreational angling return to the Lough - it is such as integral part of Cork's heritage and a genuinely priceless amenity,” he said.

He added: “We are relieved that CEV is no longer present in the lake and look forward to it regaining its status as one of Ireland's premier public fisheries, to be enjoyed by everyone.”