The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has signed an agreement with American company Troutlodge, under which Cornaa fish hatchery will be leased to the company.

The arrangement will require Troutlodge to continue rearing and stocking top quality rainbow trout for the Department, whilst at the same time allowing the company to expand on their European egg production. 

The Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry had been in discussion for some time with Troutlodge over the potential lease of the site.

The Department has owned the Cornaa site since 1972, where high quality rainbow trout are reared for stocking to Isle of Man reservoirs for recreational angling.  Over 25,000 trout, weighing up to 20lbs are stocked by DAFF each fishing season, with a record fish of 20lbs 2.25oz captured in January 2009.

Troutlodge, based in North West USA is one of the world’s leading producers of salmonid eggs, annually shipping nearly 400 million eggs around the world. 

In 2007, Troutlodge acquired the Glen Wyllin Trout Farm site on the Isle of Man, and in 2008/09 shipped nearly 30 million eggs to 21 countries.

The reservoir stocking programme will be carefully monitored and audited by DAFF Fisheries Officers to ensure the size and quality of the fish consistently meets the agreed standard.

The Fisheries Officers currently based at the Cornaa site will move to the new DAFF HQ at St Johns in April when the lease will commence.

Mr Phil Gawne, Minister for Agriculture, commented, "the release of the resource commitment at Cornaa will allow the Department to focus on the better management and development of fish stocks native to the Isle of Man, improvements to recreational angling and significantly, more targeted and effective fisheries enforcement."

Local anglers have been kept up to date on the progress of this move through the angler’s forum.