The following information has been received regarding the enforcement of the provisions of the Birds and Habitats Directives and CITES regulations which make serious infringements criminal offences.
I attach an extract from the last edition addressing river work which may be of interest.
”Urban rivers are typically heavily-engineered and polluted with degraded habitats. They are therefore a priority for biodiversity restoration. Research suggests that relatively simple modifications to river walls may potentially encourage biodiversity by significantly improving habitats for plants and animals.
Considering that that animal by-products from healthy wild animals, having died accidentally or naturally (so not as a consequence of an infectious disease) or through hunting, can not represent a threat to human or animal health, FACE - representing all national hunters’ organisations and some 7.000.000 hunters in Europe – is of the opinion that animal by-products from game, “produced” in direct connection to hunting or game management activities, should not be included in the new “Animal by-products” Regulation.
In the framework of the Sustainable Hunting Initiative, FACE has recently written - jointly with BirdLife International - a letter to the European Commission to request their intentions for the phasing out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands.
We have received the following from FACE: “The European Commission just confirmed that the presentation of the official publication of the Interpretative Guide for the “Birds” Directive will take place on Tuesday 20th January 2009 from 16.30 till 19:00 in Paris, in the presence of Commissioner DIMAS and the French Environment Minister BORLOO, and will include intervention by President de TURCKHEIM on behalf of FACE. We should receive more practical details by early February at the latest but in case you wish to attend this important event, please note this date and also inform us of your interest.”
This Pattern came about last October while tying up some picric dyed Dabblers for a good friend. He saw me tying up Mallard and claret, and he asked if it was possible to tie up a couple using picric materials.
The tying of the Octopus pattern is associated with the late Scottish international Jim Newlands.Over the years variations of this pattern has been dressed.One such variation is the Claret Octopus which has been used on the Irish Loughs as an attractor to great effect.
The tying of this pattern is as follows, and an instructional videois also included.
Hook size 8 or 10
Silk brown or claret
Tail Fluorescent yellow floss
Rib Claret UTC wire
Body Claret seals fur
Body hackle claret saddle
Red twinkle under the winging
Wound hackle of dyed claret Golden pheasant breast feather
This pattern was created back in August 2008 for use on the Loughs mainly in September and October, when sedges are the order of the day. The pattern is a cross between the red arse Dabbler and a Muddler. The captain of the ladiesfly fishing team Julie Gerry of Maynooth will be reporting on the performance of this pattern and the five other styles later in the season, (Claret Dubbler)(Wilkinson Dubbler)(Golden Olive Dubbler) (Cock Robin Dubbler) (Fiery Brown Dubbler) The tying HOOK No 10 or 12 Fulling mills competition heavyweight
TYING THREAD no8 or 9 black uni-thread
BODYPicric dyed charlie hair with red seals fur butt
RIB Medium Silver wire
BODY HACKLE Picric dyed grey saddle
HEAD Picric dyed costal deer hair
TIPS When you have applied the dubbing and hackle use a Velcro brush to sweep back the hackle and dubbing, this will streamline the hackle and tease out the glister in the Charlie hair.
Charlie hair is a dubbing of several blend of fur with glister mixed in. The glister takes on the tint of the dubbing and also produces a subtle twinkle to the fly when pulled through the wave
Representatives from the international hunting community met for a conference in the Republic of Ireland in mid-August and signed the historic Charter of the International Union of Hunting with Hounds which includes the declaration that “This Union…..actively opposes those who seek to attack the interests of hunting with hounds.” Download the Charter here
Lawrence Finney continues with his Fly of the Month. July sees the increasing number of terrestrials coming onto the waters around Ireland, and our old favourite the Daddy Long Legs is one such terrestrial the fly fisherman just loves to see skating across the surface of the lakes and loughs. To download Lawrence's Fly of the Month for July click here
The Department of the Environment is seeking views on proposals to introduce statutory restrictions on the use of lead shot in or over wetland areas in Northern Ireland. The Unitied Kingdom (UK) is a contracting party to an International agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (the Agreement). The Agreement seeks to promote the conservation of migratory waterbirds and covers 118 countries worldwide.
Key Issues 
This Pattern came about last October while tying up some picric dyed Dabblers for a good friend.
Lawrence Finney continues with his Fly of the Month. July sees the increasing number of terrestrials coming onto the waters around Ireland, and our old favourite the Daddy Long Legs is one such terrestrial the fly fisherman just loves to see skating across the surface of the lakes and loughs. To download Lawrence's Fly of the Month for July 
The Department of the Environment is seeking views on proposals to introduce statutory restrictions on the use of lead shot in or over wetland areas in Northern Ireland. The Unitied Kingdom (UK) is a contracting party to an International agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (the Agreement). The Agreement seeks to promote the conservation of migratory waterbirds and covers 118 countries worldwide.
