MulkearLIFE+ Nature Project

Restoration of the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation for Sea Lamprey, Atlantic Salmon and European Otter

This is one of the most exciting and important fish and nature conservation projects ever undertaken on a river catchment basis anywhere in Ireland and hopefully will be a conservation blueprint for future integrated catchment management.

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  Atlantic Salmon

  The "king of fishes" is widely distributed around the North Atlantic and the Mulkear River is considered one of the top five spawning rivers in Ireland relative to its size.

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  Sea Lamprey

  It is a case of the 'beauty and the beast' in comparing Atlantic Salmon and sea lamprey but the Mulkear River is of national importance as a spawning river.

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  European Otter

  Otters are found in many parts of Ireland but are rarely seen as they are essentially nocturnal hunting at night and rest by day in their well-hidden homes (holts).

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Project Focus

The project covers the Mulkear River catchment and covers an area of 650 square kilometers in counties Limerick and Tipperary. The main project actions and all work focused on the rehabilitation of degraded river habitat takes place in SAC areas.

Project Start

Mulkear LIFE officially started in January 2009 but did not get properly underway until October 2009 with the project team members taking up duties. A summary of the project is available in the reports and publications section of this web-site. Please register your details and stay in touch with this project which is due to complete its work in January 2014.