Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured convictions against two men for illegal netting, with fines and costs reaching €8,000.
Valiulis Dalius and Bloslanas Dzapbarovas, both of Kilnamanagh in Dublin 24, were prosecuted for using a net to capture fish in freshwater river/lakes and for keeping up a continued net stretched across any river.
The incident happened on the Grand Canal near Monasterevin, in the townland of Killinure, Co Laois on 27 May 2023.
This case was finalised at Portlaoise District Court on 16 February. The offences were in contravention of Section 95(1) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, and Section 91(1)(d) of the same Act, as amended by Section 77 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010.
Both men were fined €3,000 each, and had to pay €1,000 in legal costs each.
Commenting after the court verdict, Lynda Connor, South Eastern River Basin District director at IFI said: “The protection of our freshwater fish species is extremely important in an era when there are numerous pressures impacting Ireland’s environment.
“I commend our local IFI protection officers for their unwavering commitment in protecting our fisheries resource.”
