Sustainability & Environment
For generations to come
ESB's fishery role
The ESB has always had a responsibility to the environment of Ireland, particularly its waterways and fisheries. Our fisheries role is statutory, and we provide amenities on the waters we operate based on a sense of good citizenship.
Public amenities
In places like Leixlip on the Liffey, we provide still water canoeing facilities as well as picnic and recreational areas for the public.
Other areas have forest walks, and certain reservoirs (including Poulaphouca Reservoir, resting place for a migratory Greylag population) have become designated sanctuary areas.
Fish preservation
In 1935, the Irish government handed over all fishing rights on the Shannon to ESB, to assist in preserving and developing the Shannon fishery.
While the harnessing of the river at Ardnacrusha did not change the environment for fish life in the upper Shannon, it created an obvious entry and exit problem for fish - including salmon and eel - that migrate.
Dams also present problems for juvenile fish travelling downstream. To compensate for this, we built a fish hatchery at Parteen Dam in 1958. Since then, 23 million fish have been released from here into the upper Shannon.
Salmon smolt project
We are currently engaged in a far-reaching programme to find solutions to the problems of fish movements up and down the Shannon.
The ultimate aim of this research and restocking is to restore the Shannon as a great wild salmon fishery.