Lough Erne
The beautiful county of Fermanagh has wide stretches of island-dotted waterways and secluded bays surrounded by a patchwork of green fields, soft undulating hillsides and fresh forests. The rivers and lakes of Fermanagh teem with fish and Lough Erne has claimed many world coarse angling match records. The trout and salmon fishing is good too and the whole region is highly developed for fishing.
The characteristic habitats of Lower Lough Erne are traditional hay meadows and unimproved islands. The silences of Lough Erne are broken in springtime by courting waders and wildfowl. On the Upper Lough flooded drumlins, reed-swamp and fen give the landscape its pattern. Both Upper and Lower Lough Erne are important bird areas, as are Castle Caldwell Forest and Pettigoe Plateau. There are nine National Nature Reserves in Fermanagh.
Coarse fishing can be enjoyed all year round in Fermanagh, a county which has long been recognized as one of Europe's best regions for the coarse angler. A particularly notable venue for big catches is Lough Erne.
The Environmental Health Department of Fermanagh District Council plays a major role in the protection of the environment in Fermanagh. This involves the regulation of
§ Activities that may pollute air
§ Storage, transport and disposal of waste
§ Keeping and disposal of radioactive materials.
The EHS operates a 24-hour response to pollution incidents. The Pollution Hotline Number is 0800 80 70 60.
Other organisations actively involved with environmental issues in Fermanagh include:
§ Environment and Heritage Service (EHS)
§ Friends of the Earth (Northern Ireland)
§ Northern Ireland Water Council
§ Food Standards Authority