Poachers & Polluters Beware – Inland Fisheries Ireland Launch 24 Hour Phone Service
November 30th, 2010
Poachers & Polluters Beware – Inland Fisheries Ireland Launch 24 Hour Phone Service
Inland Fisheries Irelands national 24 Hour Confidential Phone Line begins operation tomorrow, December 1st, 2010. The all important number is 1890 34 74 24 or for easier recall 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidences of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species. Inland Fisheries Ireland staff will investigate the reports and process as appropriate.
From December 1st, the public can call IFI any time they witness illegal fishing or discover a water pollution event. Receiving timely information is critical to apprehending those responsible for damaging fish stocks or fish habitat. The public’s help is also being sought to prevent the spread of invasive species, which can cause millions of euros of damage to the aquatic environment.
Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, launched the phone line saying ‘ this initiative is vital to our intelligence led protection programme . Our aim is to stamp out the antisocial practice of illegal fishing and to protect the fish and fisheries habitat. With the public’s help, Inland Fisheries Ireland can improve on its successful record of apprehension and prosecution of those involved in illegal fishing and destruction of our inland fisheries resource. I urge all those with an interest in preserving this wonderful natural resource to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to 1890 34 74 24’
The phone line will be run on a pilot basis for 6 months, after which time its operations will be assessed and reviewed.
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Media Enquiries:
Suzanne Campion
Head of Business Development
Inland Fisheries Ireland
Anglesea Street,
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971;
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Notes to Editor
Background to the Phone Line
On July 1st, 2010 Inland Fisheries Ireland was established. It has a national remit for the protection and conservation of inland fisheries and sea angling. It replaces the Central and 7 Regional Fisheries Boards. Heretofore, information was received at individual regional offices and by personnel in confidence. These numbers are still in use and may continued to be used for non-urgent reports. The new 24 Hour phone line will provide the public with one point of contact and will allow IFI to coordinate and direct a more efficient, intelligence led protection function.
How 1890 34 74 24 will work
From December 1st, the phone line will be manned on a 24Hour basis. All calls will be answered by IFI trained personnel, not an answering machine. Details of the information will be logged and the information will be passed on to the relevant person and office in IFI on a 24 hour, 7 day basis. Follow up of calls may be immediate where resources allow and the information is classified as urgent. Where calls relate to past events, follow up will begin on the next working day.
Callers will be encouraged to provide their personal contact details to allow for further follow up on their information where required.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Marine 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 will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.
