About the ICCG |
What is arctic char? |
Why save arctic char? |
Where do they occur? |
Threats to arctic char |
How you can help |

Arctic char as part of our glacial heritage are very sensitive to environmental change. Man’s activities has led to the extinction of up to 40% of known Irish populations, including recent extinctions in L. Corrib (Galway), L. Conn (Mayo) and L. Dan (Wicklow).

The main threats are from;

· eutrophication (e.g.. enrichment from farm effluent, sewage, fertiliser run off)

· acidification (acid rain and afforestation)

· species introductions (e.g., pike, roach, even stocking with trout, farm/fishery char escapes)

· engineering works (gravel abstraction, road building, water abstraction)

· climate change.