William Joshua Ffennell facts for kids

William Joshua Ffennell (1799–1867) was an important Irish person who worked to improve fishing. He is known as a "fishery reformer" because he helped change laws and practices to protect fish and rivers. He was born on August 16, 1799, in Ballybrado, near the River Suir in Ireland.

William was the second of sixteen children in his family. He loved to hunt, shoot, and especially fish. He became very good at catching salmon. While fishing, he noticed that the number of fish in the Suir and other rivers was getting smaller. This made him want to help.

Protecting Ireland's Rivers

William Ffennell saw that fishing in Ireland's rivers was in trouble. He spent a lot of time learning about fish habits and old laws. He wanted to make changes to protect the fish.

Tackling Fishing Problems

In 1824, Ffennell moved to Carrigataha, a place right next to the Suir River. He faced challenges from people who fished illegally (poachers). He also had problems with "stake weirs," which were large fences built in the river to catch fish. These weirs often blocked too many fish.

In 1834, William became a local official, like a judge, called a "commissioner of the peace." He used his position to improve the river's health. He gained the trust of local people, even though they had different political views.

Starting the Suir Preservation Society

In 1837, William and his friend, the Earl of Glengall, started the Suir Preservation Society. This group worked to protect the River Suir. They helped bring attention to the problems with fishing in Ireland.

Their hard work led to a new law in 1842. This law included many of Ffennell's ideas. However, it also gave some special rights to the stake weirs, which continued to cause problems for a while.

New Laws and New Roles

More laws were passed to help protect the rivers. In 1844, police were allowed to help protect the fish. In 1845, another salmon law was passed. William Ffennell was then made a fishery inspector. This meant he would check on fishing all over Ireland.

During the Great Famine, a time when many people in Ireland were starving, Ffennell tried to help. He visited Scotland to learn how to preserve fish. He hoped to teach this skill to people on the west coast of Ireland to help them find food.

In 1848, a very important law was passed. It was often called "Ffennell's Act." This law helped local areas get money and tools to protect salmon. It made sure that protecting fish could pay for itself. William then became a commissioner in charge of these new fishing areas.

Helping Beyond Ireland

William Ffennell's ideas were so good that other countries asked for his help. In 1853, he showed models of "salmon passes" at an exhibition in Dublin. These passes were special ramps that helped salmon swim around dams or other blockages.

His advice was often sought in England and Scotland. In 1860, he became a royal commissioner to study salmon fishing in England and Wales. His work led to a new law in 1861. After this, he became an inspector for salmon fisheries in England and Wales. In 1862, he also became a commissioner for fisheries in Scotland.

The Salmon Act

William Ffennell kept working to improve fishing laws. In 1863, a new salmon law was passed for Ireland. This law finally got rid of the harmful stake weirs. He wrote a small book that helped make this law happen. A similar law was passed for England in 1865.

In 1866, he started a nature magazine called Land and Water with his friend Francis T. Buckland. The magazine focused a lot on fishing and wildlife.

Family and Legacy

William Ffennell married Margaret Catherine Prendergast in 1830. They had nine children together.

He passed away in London on March 12, 1867. William Ffennell was very good at understanding all the small details of salmon fishing. He was also excellent at explaining his ideas to people at public meetings. His work greatly helped to protect and improve fishing in Ireland and beyond.