Victory for Inland Fisheries Ireland in illegal salmon fishing cases

14th December 2010

Inland Fisheries Ireland has successfully won a number of court cases against Mr. John Carney of Beechwood Drive, Dunleer for a range of illegal salmon fishing offences. In the most recent case he was fined €1,000 and ordered to pay total costs of €2,647 to Inland Fisheries Ireland at Drogheda District Court on 9th December last. Previous to this, Mr. Carney was fined €1,000 in total and ordered to pay costs of €882 at Drogheda District Court on 11th November.

On 5th September 2008, fisheries officers from the Drogheda district of Inland Fisheries Ireland, apprehended Mr. Carney at Oldbridge on the River Boyne. He was found to be in possession of a net near freshwater and court proceedings were initiated. Mr. Carney did not appear in court and Judge Flann Brennan convicted him under Section 96 (2) of the 1959 Fisheries Act, for having a net in his possession in the vicinity of a river which was capable of capturing salmon.

The second offence occurred on the 15th June 2010 when Mr. Carney was approached on the River Dee by fisheries officers in the Dundalk district who requested to search his belongings and he refused. Judge Flann Brennan convicted Mr. Carney under Section 301 of the 1959 Fisheries Act for obstructing an authorised officer in carrying out his duties.

Mr. Carney was fined €500 for each offence and to pay costs of €2,647 with one month to pay.

Previous to this on 11th November last, Mr. Carney was found guilty of two offences contrary to Section 97 and Section 182 (2) of the 1959 Fisheries Act. These related to the use of a fixed net in an attempt to capture and keep salmon illegally on 28th September 2007 on the River Glyde in Dundalk. It had been very difficult to serve summons on Mr. Carney and Gardai had assisted greatly during this process. Mr. Carney was fined €1,000 in total and ordered to pay costs of €882.

Taking both court cases into account the total fines given to Mr. Carney was €2,000 with one month to pay and total costs of €3,529.

In 2006 Inland Fisheries Ireland introduced a series of conservation measures in order to combat the decline in salmon numbers. The interceptory mixed stock fishery for salmon ceased throughout Ireland and netsmen who availed of the Hardship Scheme were duly compensated for their loss of the salmon fishery. At the peak of salmon production in the 1970’s, approximately 3,000 salmon were caught commercially in Dundalk waters. This declined to an all time low in 2006 when only 225 were caught in the entire Dundalk bay area. Consequently all the rivers on the East coast with the exception of the River Fane have been closed for salmon fishing in recent years until such time as salmon stocks recover sufficiently to sustain a catchable quota. For the last two years the river Boyne was open on a catch and release basis only.

In a further effort to combat poaching Inland Fisheries Ireland have just launched a new freefone number to enable members of the general public to report poaching and pollution incidences - 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.

It is hoped that these collective measures will preserve our stock of Atlantic salmon, which are not only a valuable resource for our economy, but also an important part of our natural heritage as salmon and trout have been running our rivers since the last ice age.

……Ends…..

Media enquiries:

Josie Mahon
Inland Fisheries Ireland
15A Main Street
Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Tel: 01 278 7022 / 087 6538202
Email: josie.mahon@erfb.ie
Website: www.fishinginireland.info

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 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.
Inland Fisheries Ireland replaces the Central and seven Regional Fisheries Boards.