#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) was successful in a court case brought against two men accused of illegal fishing and impeding authorised officers of IFI on the River Boyne in 2013. 

At Navan District Court on 28 May, David Tuite of Drogheda, Co Louth was fined €400 for impeding an IFI authorised officer and ordered to pay total costs of €683 to IFI within six months, with 40 days imprisonment in default of payment.

Meanwhile, John O’Brien, also of Drogheda, was fined €800 for impeding an IFI authorised officer and ordered to pay costs of €683 to the IFI within six months, with 50 days imprisonment in default of payment. 

The court heard that after midnight on 8 August 2013, fisheries officers Kevin O’Brien, Val Woods, Robert Bergin and Philip Duff from the Drogheda district were undertaking a covert surveillance operation following reports of illegal fishing at Proudfootstown, Co Meath.

They detected a number of men including David Tuite and John O’Brien who were acting suspiciously on the River Boyne and who were suspected of attempting to take fish illegally.

When intercepted by IFI staff, one of the men impeded the officers by throwing a bag he was carrying into the river, while the second man attempted to run away and refused to give his name when required to do so by the officers.

Both men were present at Navan District Court and pleaded guilty to impeding authorised officers in carrying out their duties in the execution of powers under Section 301 (7) of the 1959 Fisheries Consolidation Act.

Judge Conal Gibbons was very forceful in his support of the actions of IFI staff on the night in question. He stated that fisheries officers carry out difficult work in difficult places at unsociable hours.

He commended the work of officers O’Brien, Woods, Bergin and Duff, and stated that people should not interfere with the work of fisheries officers in the execution of their duties.

The River Boyne was one of the most salmon-prolific rivers on the East Coast, and in the 1980s approximately 10,000 salmon ran the system. This declined to an all-time low in 2006 when less than 1,000 salmon were caught on the river.

In 2006, IFI introduced a series of conservation measures in order to combat the decline in salmon numbers. The River Boyne is open for catch and release angling in an effort to conserve our native population of Atlantic salmon.

IFI has a Freefone number for the public to report poaching and pollution incidents at 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24.

#Angling - The 2014 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival came to an exciting close as local angler John Potters emerged victorious with a total catch over three days of 49.45kg.

His 16.8kg catch on the final day clinched him the Classic title for 2014, along with a cheque for £5,000 (€6,180) and the coveted crystal chalice.

Potters' achievement is all the more remarkable as he is the first angler in the 39-year history of the classic to win the event for a second time, having previously won in 2011.

Close behind in second place was Kevin Rowles from Wiltshire, whose day-three catch on Boa Island boosted his total to 46.94kg, earning him £2,000 (€2,470) and a crystal trophy.

In third place was Brenton Sweeney from Cootehill, with a total of 44.05kg, which netted him £1,500 (€1,850) and a trophy.

In fourth overall was Matthew Hall from Nottingham with 43.77kg; Phil Bardell from Milton Keynes was fifth, and Cootehill angler Neil Mazurek completed the leaderboard in sixth place.

Organisers of the 2014 Waterways Ireland Classic said they were very encouraged by the increase in the number of anglers who entered the competition and by the fact that the average catch per angler showed a 2kg increase over last year.

The Classic Fishing Festival was sponsored for the 12th year by Waterways Ireland, with additional sponsorship from DAIWA, and was organised by Fermanagh District Council in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

#Angling - A kids' contest for 'best fish costume' is among the events for all the family to mark World Fish Migration Day 2014 this coming Saturday 24 May.

World Fish Migration Day is a one-day global initiative, with local events worldwide, to create awareness on the importance of open rivers and migratory fish.

The ability of fish to freely migrate is crucial to achieve healthy fish stocks. While most fish are migratory to some degree, some species like those found in the Lower Shannon - Atlantic salmon, trout, sea lamprey and eel - migrate thousands of kilometres to complete their life cycles.

If they can’t migrate, the population will die out. And this has already happened with many species in different places around the world where barriers such as weirs, dams and sluices - built for water management, hydropower and land drainage - prevent fish from completing their life cycle.

Here in Ireland, MulkearLIFE and Inland Fisheries Ireland will host two events highlight the importance of fish migration on the Lower Shannon, with an emphasis on the Mulkear River Catchment and migration of Atlantic salmon and sea lamprey through the Annacotty Weir.

Early in the morning from 6am-8am there will be a live demonstration of sea lamprey successfully traversing the dedicated passes at the Annacotty Weir. The meeting point is the car park at the Mill Bar in Annacotty, Co Limerick. (Please not that this event is dependant on river conditions and the presence of lamprey in the system.)

Later in the day, the Mill Bar car park will host a family fun afternoon from 12 noon - with the aforementioned 'best fish costume' contest plus face-painting, live fish demonstrations and an excursion to Ballyclogh Weir on the Lower Mulkear - all with a view to helping children learn more about the importance of fish migration and healthy river ecosystems.

The Mulkear River, and the wider catchment, forms part of the Lower Shannon Special Area of Conservation and is the focus of the EU-funded MulkearLIFE project.

The day out on the Mulkear River is just one of almost 250 events around the world on World Fish Migration Day, starting in New Zealand and following the sun around the world till it sets in Hawaii.

The day is hoped to bring global attention for the need for open rivers and free routes for fish migration.

#Angling - At recent sitting of Ennis District Court, father and son Peter and James Garrihy of Ennistymon, Co Clare were successfully prosecuted and fined €750 each by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for illegally capturing salmon on the River Inagh, near the iconic falls at Ennistymon.

In August 2013, IFI fisheries officers were carrying out night surveillance on the Inagh River when they observed the two men using a net and illegally capturing salmon.

Both pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of illegally captured salmon. 

In making his judgement, Judge William Early queried the weight of the fish caught and the possible damage that was caused to the river by the removal of salmon that would have been capable of spawning that winter.

He added that it was unfortunate that the conservation measures which have been put in place to restore the river are being disregarded.

The Inagh River is currently closed to salmon angling as it is failing to meet its conservation limit. This means that there are not enough salmon returning to spawn to sustain salmon numbers required for the river.

IFI is in the process of installing a fish counter on this river to further assist in determining the return of salmon to the river.

The fisheries body's Limerick director Amanda Mooney said: “This blatant predation of salmon is unacceptable and these fish are the future to the survival of the species within these river catchments.

"Incidents of this nature are can be detrimental to the wild salmon stocks as they are under severe threat nationally and internationally with numbers declining annually. 

"I would urge people not to purchase any illegally caught fish and to report any suspected illegal activity to Inland Fisheries Ireland.” 

Illegal salmon fishing is an environmental crime, and IFI says it will continue its efforts to protect and conserve this valuable natural resources. Members of the public can report any illegal fishing activity on a 24-hour confidential hotline at 1890 FISH 24 (1890 347424).

#Angling - The 39th annual Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival kicks off today (12 May) in Co Fermanagh with more than 200 fisherman angling for the title of 'King of the Erne'.

This year's prize fund is worth more than £20,000 (€24,500) with venue-based, daily and aggregate prizes up for grabs.

And according to the Impartial Reporter, the week's fishing should be graced by better weather than Ireland's had over the past few days. Find out more HERE.

#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) secured a conviction for illegal fishing in Waterford earlier this month over an incident last summer that quickly escalated from a fisheries investigation to a search and rescue operation.

Brendan Keane was prosecuted for illegal netting of bass in Tramore Bay on 25 August 2013 at a sitting of the District Court last Wednesday 2 May.

Keane, of Grantstown in Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to possession of a net, use of a boat while illegal fishing, and obstructing and impeding IFI officers, all contrary to the 1959 Fisheries Consolidation Act, and possession of nine bass contrary to a 2007 bye-law.

IFI inspector Tony O'Dwyer outlined in detail to Judge Kevin Staunton the complex series of events which unfolded when he and a colleague, with co-operation from the Garda, were investigating illegal netting of fish near Saleens, Co Waterford around 5am on the day in question.

O'Dwyer and fishery officer Isaac Ferns discovered Keane and an accomplice illegally fishing with a net and a small boat under cover of darkness in an area renowned by anglers for its stocks of salmon, sea trout and in particular wild bass, the sale of which is banned in Ireland.

When confronted, Keane began aggressively swinging an oar and roaring obscenities at the two IFI officers, and the court heard he was searching for his gun in the boat when the officers approached as he came ashore.

Keane and his accomplice retreated back to the open sea in their tiny unseaworthy boat, putting them in extreme danger. The tiny craft was not capable of dealing with the sea conditions and Keane had no buoyancy aid or lifejacket.

Gardaí involved in the incident said they were left with no choice but to alert the RNLI and Irish Coast Guard when what began as a fisheries investigation turned into a multi-agency marine search operation, including the deployment of a rescue helicopter when Keane's boat as round drifting without passengers.

Keane and his accomplice were subsequently found safely ashore but both refused to admit to gardaí that they had been the occupants of the drifting vessel. 

IFI staff seized the small craft and a 120-metre drift net along with nine dead bass during the investigation.

Judge Kevin Staunton convicted Keane, imposing a four-month suspended sentence, with fines totalling €3,000, and awarding expenses of €751.02 to IFI. Keane’s boat and net were also forfeited.

Meanwhile in Galway, Judge Mary Fahy convicted two men of illegal fishing on the Clare River last summer at a sitting of Galway District Court on Tuesday 6 May.

James Fahy, of Ballindooley in Co Galway, was convicted of three offences on two dates in June and August 2013, while Michael McGath, of Castlegar in Co Galway, was convicted of one offence in August 2013.

Judge Fahy heard evidence from fisheries inspector Pat Gorman that on 18 June last James Fahy was observed using a net on the Clare River.

When approached, Fahy attempted to reverse his vehicle away down a side road, but fishery officers intervened. During the incident fishery officer Paul Reynolds was assaulted. Fahy was apprehended, and a search of the vehicle revealed a net, six large salmon and two large trout.

Fahy pleaded guilty to illegal possession of the fish, and to assault and obstruction. He pleaded guilty to a further charge of illegal possession of a net at the same location on 11 August, when he was again observed by fishery officers fishing and then concealing a net.

Judge Fahy convicted James Fahy and fined him €1,750 with €600 costs, and ordered him to pay €500 compensation to Reynolds. The judge also commented in court that illegal fishing hits already depleted fish stocks, and affects tourism.

She considered a driving disqualification in light of the use of the vehicle in the course of the offence, but as this was a first offence a driving ban was not imposed.

At the same court sitting, Michael McGath was convicted of illegal possession of a net on 11 August, and fined €100 with €600 costs.

#Angling - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) wants your help to improve fish habitats and make your angling experience better.

Anglers across Ireland are being invited to take part in a survey as part of an international report on anglers' habits and how they rate the fisheries they frequent.

"Great fishing is about the prospect of lots of quality fish while spending time enjoying the outdoors," says IFI. "Quality fish come from healthy populations enjoying good water, plenty of food and access to habitat.

"When we have dams, denuded riverbanks, culverts, dredged gravel beds and poor water quality we don’t have healthy fish and we certainly don’t have great fishing experiences."

The survey should take no more than five minutes to complete. All information collected is anonymous and not related to your email address.

IFI is also offering a prize draw liked at the end of the survey where you could win a €300 tackle voucher.

#Angling - Northern Ireland is to get its own angling expo for the first time, as the Antrim Times reports.

The Northern Ireland Angling Show will take place on the weekend of 28-29 June at Shane's Castle Estate in Antrim, bounded by Lough Neagh and the Sixmilewater and Maine rivers, which is also the venue for the Irish Game Fair.

And it's the organisers of that annual event who are responsible for this new addition to the angling calendar, prompted by the closure of The Irish Angler magazine last year.

"Great Game Fairs of Ireland immediately stepped into the breach," says the company's director Albert Titterington, by creating a new Irish Game Angler supplement for its Irish Countrysports and Country Life magazine.

"The response to this from anglers right across Ireland was so immediate and so enthusiastic that we decided to take the bold move of developing a full scale angling show; we were determined that this opportunity wouldn’t be ‘the one that got away’.”

Helping him with the new event is Stevie Munn of the popular Irish Fly Fair in Galway, which celebrated its fourth year last November.

Expanding on the present Angling Village at the Irish Game Fair, the new event will have the usual specialist stands and dealers, casting demonstrations and competitions

But younger anglers will also be a focus, with opportunities for children to learn fly tying, casting and other skills to get them 'hooked' on angling.

The Antrim Times has more on the story HERE.

#angling – A compulsory charge for anglers will not be introduced in the context of the proposed new inland fisheries legislation. Minister for Natural Resources, Fergus O Dowd TD, has confirmed has also stated there is no such proposal for consideration.

The context for new legislation is the need to bring the legislative code in the sector into a system that is fit for the 21st Century. In that regard, under existing legislation breach of fisheries legislation can result in prosecution, potentially leading to imprisonment. It has been raised in consultation as to whether there is a better way and if lesser breaches could be taken outside the court system perhaps via a fixed penalty system.

There are no predetermined proposals for any issue for new legislation and the consultation process is on-going. The Minister of State has made repeatedly clear that he wishes to see the fullest possible level of consensus before any proposals are finalised. He also gave a commitment at recent meetings with the Angling Bodies that no proposal will be finalised until the current round of inter-federation discussions are complete, and that he will not facilitate any proposals which might be a source of division within the sector.

#More than one-and-a-quarter million anglers in England paying £22 million a year for fishing rod licences are being short changed because the money is not being spent to maintain and develop freshwater fisheries, as the law requires.

The Environment Agency has cut the number of qualified employees in its fisheries service, according to the president of the Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) Peter Spillett.

Without skilled professionals the agency was unlikely, he said, to be able to make decisions enabling it to conduct its duties competently. It needed to "to demonstrate to anglers that they are getting the service for which they are paying."

In a letter to David Jordan, the agency's operations director, Dr. Spillett warns against the agency "reviewing its corporate ambitions and rapidly restructuring itself" without awaiting the results of its internal Fisheries Refresh project which had already identified concerns.

"The lack of a separate fisheries function at operational level...means that the limited opportunities for skills development and career progression will be further restricted."
Staff, he said, should be encouraged to improve their skills.

Much expertise had already been lost and more would be if regional fisheries specialists were removed "as seems likely in the new structure of the agency."

Replying Mr. Jordan said the agency shared the IFM's "determination to secure the best deal for fisheries." Issues reflecting the institute's concerns had been identified and he was confident it would "deliver the best options we can achieve."

The agency's aim, he said, was to simplify how it worked, reduce bureaucracy, have the right people in the right place with the right skills and learn from experience outside the organisation, including the IFM, the Angling Trust and associated bodies.

Dr. Spillett said the agency should show how its fishing licence income was spent. Clearly a very large slice funded its head office, only about 40 per cent going to its regions and areas to spend on fisheries.

Because the agency was required to spend its licence income on fisheries the work ought to be unaffected by cuts in Government grant-in-aid.

Dr. Spillett said much fisheries work appeared to be directed at "mitigating and preventing" damage caused by others, including other agency functions such as flood defence.

This year's IFM conference will be in Liverpool October 7 - 9.