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

kkkjkj

Portora

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

End

Joe GillespieNorthern Regional Manager