The Erne SystemNavigation
Joe GillespieNorthern Regional Manager
Waterways Ireland Headquarters
Sensitive Ecology
Upper Lough Erne – Natura 2000 designations (SPA & SAC) apply•SPA and Ramsar (overwintering Whooper swans)in its entirety, supported by 4ASSI’s (breeding waders and large heronry)•SAC (partly for sizeable and dense otter population)
Lower Lough Erne - no overall designation for the lough shore and islands•Only partially designated – some islands are ASSI’s (breeding waders)
In-house Environment Unit (Scarriff) in Technical Services•Guidance on Best Practice•Completion of Assessments•Heritage Studies for each waterway
Upper Lough Erne
Inter-Lough Channel
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Lower Lough Erne
INSPECTORATE OF NAVIGATION
Implementation of the Lough Erne Bye-laws
Lough Erne Warden
Assistant Warden
Two Seasonal Boatpersons
Barges Cruisers
Open Boats
Day Cruisers
Jet Skis
Power Boats
Power Cruisers
Speedboats
Craft Registrations by Category
Total craft registered: 5563Craft registered year to date: 294
(27/09/2012)
Investment in Plant & Equipment
Maintenance & Inspection
•Aids to Navigation (400+)
•Public Jetties (52) & Slipways (11)
•Pump-outs & chemical toilet disposal
•Amenity areas
•Water level monitoring
•Aquatic weed growth
Flood and Ice Damage
Inish Davar Jetty Refurbishment
Inishmacsaint Jetty Refurbishment
Kesh River
Dredging
Aquatic Weeds
Aquatic Plant Management Strategy developed• in consultation with NI Environment Agency•within the context of Upper Lough Erne designations
Key Elements
•Monitoring•Minimal intervention•Harvesting of weed•Removal from Lough and transport to licensed waste disposal site•Composting•Prevention of spread of invasive species including Zebra Mussel•Recording of locations and quantities removed
Blunt Leafed Pondweed
Nuttall's Pondweed
HabitatsRegulationsAssessment
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Tonnes of Aquatic Weed Harvested Annually
Lough Erne Invasive Species Group
•Develop management strategies which will be implemented by therelevant agencies in a co-ordinated manner
•Explore options for control of Nuttall’s pondweed and other invasivespecies
•Communication with stakeholders, commercial enterprises and thegeneral public
•Publications and Signage
Devenish
Inishmacsaint
13 Programme RecommendationsNo. 1 Waterways InfrastructureNo. 7 Christian Heritage RouteNo. 12 Tourism & Marketing
Erne Recreational,Tourism &
Commercial ProductIdentification Study
Naan Island
Crevinishaughy Island East
Geaglum
Tully Castle
Muckross
Enniskillen
Ardhowen
Castle Archdale
Manor House Hotel Manor House Marine
Carrybridge
Events Sponsorship & Partnerships
The Erne SystemNavigation
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Joe GillespieNorthern Regional Manager