Man prosecuted for illegal netting of salmon on the river Colligan, Dungarvan.

At the sitting of the Dungarvan District Court on Wednesday 26th March 2014, Mr. Arthur Daly, Dungarvan, County Waterford was prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for illegal netting of salmon on the river Colligan, Dungarvan. Mr. Daly pleaded guilty to breaches of Sections 94(1), 96(1) and 97(2) of the 1959 Act as amended. Mr. Jason Moran, Fisheries Officer with IFI, told Judge Terrance Finn that while on a routine patrol at approximately 9pm on the evening of the 20th of August 2013, he and three other fishery officers observed Mr. Daly and an accomplice setting two nets in a pool in the river and throwing stones in the pool to drive fish into the nets. The fish had no chance to escape as they were trapped between the two nets and were being forced into the nets by the action of Mr. Daly throwing stones at the fish. Mr. Daly and his accomplice had already succeeded in netting two salmon which were in Mr. Dalys bag. The river Colligan is a very important wild salmon and sea trout river but is only open for catch and release angling for salmon in an attempt to conserve the salmon population. Illegal fishing activity, particularly netting activities have potentially devastating consequences for fish stocks.

Judge Terrance Finn convicted Mr. Daly and imposed fines totalling €2,000.00 and awarded legal costs of €997.39 and expenses of €597.64 to Inland Fisheries Ireland.

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Suzanne Campion, 
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Inland Fisheries Ireland, 
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. 
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie