#Fishing - 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 14 October.
John Griffin and Tony Malone, both of Inistioge in 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 Eamon O’Brien convicted Griffin, imposing fines of €300.00 and awarded legal costs of €568.50 and convicted Malone, imposing fines of €200.00 and awarded legal costs of €568.50.
PJ Doran, fishery officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), told Judge O'Brien that at around 2.15am on 11 July this year, he and fishery officer Jarlaith Gallagher observed Griffin pick up a net which they had hidden on the river bank.
Doran attempted to apprehend Griffin as he made his way back to his boat with the net, where Malone was waiting. A struggle ensued as Griffin attempted to board the boat, eventually escaping and speeding away. Doran and Gallagher clearly identified both men using night vision equipment and high powered torches.
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. 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 of 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.”
IFI has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the general public to report incidents at 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.