Two Men Prosecuted for Illegal Netting on the River Nore

Press release, Thursday, 16th October 2014

Two men have been prosecuted for illegal netting on the River Nore, downstream of Inistioge, at a recent sitting of Kilkenny District Court on Tuesday, 14th October 2014.

Mr John Griffin and Mr Tony Malone, both of Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to: possession of a stake (fixed) net; use of a boat in the commission of offences; and obstructing a fishery officer. Judge O’Brien convicted Mr Griffin, imposing fines of €300.00 and awarded legal costs of €568.50 and convicted Mr Malone, imposing fines of €200.00 and awarded legal costs of €568.50.

Mr PJ Doran, Fishery Officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) told Judge Eamon O Brien that at approximately 2.15 am on the 11th of July 2014, he and Fishery Officer Jarlaith Gallagher observed Mr Griffin pick up a net which they had hidden on the river bank. Mr Doran attempted to apprehend Mr Griffin as he made his way back to his boat with the net, where Mr Malone was waiting. A struggle ensued as Mr Griffin attempted to board the boat, eventually escaping and speeding away. Mr Doran and Mr Gallagher clearly identified both men using night vision equipment and high powered torches.

Mr Doran retrieved the net which was a monofilament net measuring 20 meters in length and designed to fish as a fixed net. A fixed net is illegal and very different to a snap net which uses nylon material and floats between two punts, meaning it is manned at all times. Snap net fishing is a legal form of traditional fishing for salmon where each fish caught must be tagged and registered and is carefully managed by IFI. Mr Griffin held a snap net licence for fishing on the Nore during the 2014 season, and has been convicted on two previous occasions for illegal netting of salmon.

David McInerney, Director, IFI Clonmel, commented. “Fishing with a fixed net under cover of darkness is illegal and has the potential to do significant damage to our valuable salmon stocks. Unfortunately, the salmon population on the River Nore is in decline and illegal netting such as this is a serious environmental crime.

“Inland Fisheries Ireland puts significant resources into ensuring such activity is stamped out and we would urge members of the public to ensure they do not support this illegal activity by buying wild salmon which are caught illegally. Salmon legally caught on the Nore snap net fishery should all have a clearly identifiable white gill tag.”

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the general public to report incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.

For more information, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie.

...ENDS ...

Contact:

Suzanne Campion,
Head of Business Development,
Inland Fisheries Ireland
Mob: 087-2690183 Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Note for Editors:

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 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.