Deteriorating fishing stands at lakes in Inver and Lyons are posing a public safety risk and threatening a valuable part of the county’s tourism economy, a Fermanagh and Omagh council meeting has heard.

Responsibility for maintaining the stands has been unclear since the Erne Melvin Enhancement Company dissolved in 2017. The company had previously transferred maintenance duties to the former Fermanagh District Council in 2005, but those arrangements were never renewed when it ceased operating, leaving the infrastructure in what Councillor Adam Gannon described as a state of limbo.

The local authority has continued to inspect the structures and carry out limited repairs, but their condition has now significantly worsened. Councillor Gannon, who raised the issue after being contacted by the Erne Anglers Angling Club, said the stands are unsafe and in need of attention.

Angling makes a major contribution to recreation and tourism in the area, he stressed. The lakes are regarded as premier coarse fishing locations, stocked with desirable species, and draw thousands of visitors each year.

Councillor Eddie Roofe seconded the proposal, calling Fermanagh a world-class angling destination. He noted that fishing tourism sustained local hospitality businesses long before the county became the tourism leader it is today. The World Predator Angling Championships were held on Lough Erne in 2024, Roofe added, and the deterioration of fishing stands is having a negative impact on both visiting and local anglers.

Councillor Anthony Feely highlighted that a number of fishing stands across the county have already been closed due to disrepair. He said the economic benefits that fishing brings to local communities should not be underestimated, nor its positive effect on health and wellbeing.