Two men prosecuted for illegal fishing of spawning Salmon with lamps and spears

News Release - 21/05/13

At a sitting of the District Court held at Fermoy on 3rd May 2013, Mr. Michael Harding, Bansha, County Tipperary and Mr. Neill Collins, Cullen, Co. Tipperary were prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), following investigations of illegal fishing activity on the River Aherlow at Angelsboro, Co. Limerick on the night of the 2nd of January 2013.

Mr. Noel Power, Fishery Officer with IFI told Judge William Early that both men had been observed fishing under the hours of darkness with a lamp and spear. Having heard the evidence the Judge convicted both men and fined Mr. Collins €350 and Mr. Harding €300, who informed the court he was unemployed, and ordered both men to each pay costs amounting to €418.90.

‘Wild Atlantic Salmon are part of our heritage’ stated Minister Fergus O’ Dowd, ‘ and the killing of spawning fish is an environmental outrage. I once again commend the work of IFI staff, working in remote areas, in the worst of weather, late at night protecting our wild salmon’.

Interference with fish over their spawning beds is a serious offence and staff from IFI are involved trying to stamp out this activity. Much of this type of activity takes place at night and IFI staff patrol the rivers during winter nights to ensure the protection of fish stocks. This illegal fishing is both barbaric and a threat to spawning Salmon. Spears and modified forks are sometimes used in tandem with lights in the illegal killing of spawning Salmon. Salmon spawn in our rivers during winter time, usually in shallow fast flowing sections of rivers and streams. The spawning process is both the start and end of the life cycle for Salmon. Adult Salmon spawn having completed one of the most arduous life cycles in the animal kingdom, having travelled thousands of miles from near the Arctic Circle to return to their native rivers.

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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.faw.ie

Notes to Editor

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.

IFI has a strong regional presence throughout Ireland. The above matter was dealt with by personnel from the IFI Clonmel office who have responsibility for the South Eastern River Basin District (SERBD).