#ANGLING - A man has been convicted and fined at Limerick District Court for illegally fishing without a permit on the Mulkear River in another successful prosecution for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
Last June, fisheries officers with IFI were carrying out a routine licence and permit patrol on the Mulkear River in the east of Co Limerick, in an area locally known as the 'Long Field'. One individual - a Mr Storan - was angling without a permit or State licence and was issued with an on-the-spot fine which had to be paid within 21 days.
The fine remained unpaid, and following several court proceedings and a bench warrant, the case was heard on 17 September and Mr Storan was convicted under Section 178 (Unauthorised entry on a several fishery). He was fined €250 and instructed to pay €400 in expenses to IFI.
IFI said: "This successful outcome was the part of the commitment of Inland Fisheries Ireland to focus on the protection of fish, especially during a time of resource constraints."
The Mulkear River is one of only two rivers which meet its salmon conservation limit in the Shannon River Basin District and angling is therefore permitted for wild salmon, subject to a licence and quota.
According to IFI, currently the river "holds excellent stocks of wild salmon, but incidents such as these are extremely detrimental and will threaten the integrity of the stocks in the river."
IFI's Limerick director Amanda Mooney commented: “This case could have been dealt with through our on-the-spot fine procedures but the individual chose to go to court where the fine was much greater.
"Inland Fisheries Ireland is committed to the protection of our wild salmon stocks and follow through on all fisheries offences.”
IFI continue to run a 24/7 hotline where anyone can report illegal fishing activity at 1890 34 74 24 or for easier recall 1850 FISH 24.
