Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured convictions against two men for separate illegal fishing net offences with total fines and costs/expenses of €3,400 levied.
In one case, a man set a fishing net on a beach using a tractor. In another incident, a man was observed removing four salmon from a net while fishing from a commercial boat. Both incidents took place in Co Mayo.
Both cases were heard at Belmullet District Courthouse on 13 March.
In the first case, John Rowland of Rossport, Ballina, Co May, was observed setting a net with the aid of a tractor on Rossport Strand on 28 June 2023.
Rowland was convicted of possessing an illegal net and fined €300, and IFI was awarded costs and expenses of €700.
Separately, IFI took a prosecution against Martin O’Donnell of Porturlin, Ballina, Co Mayo for the illegal possession of a net for the purpose of taking fish, and for possessing unlawfully captured salmon.
IFI officers observed O’Donnell removing four salmon from a net while fishing from his commercial boat off the north Mayo coast.
Officers boarded O’Donnell’s boat and, following a search, seized the net and the four salmon.
O’Donnell was convicted and fined a total of €1,400, and must pay €1,000 towards IFI’s costs and expenses in the case following the incident on 19 July 2023.
Commenting on the court verdicts, Mary Walsh, IFI’s Western director (Ballina) said: “Illegal fishing activities of this nature have negative impacts on the long-term sustainability of Ireland’s already depleted fish stocks.
"Once again, our vigilant fisheries officers conducted extensive surveillance operations to bring these cases to court.”
