Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured a conviction against a man for operating an illegal salmon net off the Mayo coast, with fines and costs of €3,114 levied.
Humphrey O’Leary of Clare Island, Co Mayo was detected operating an illegal salmon net by IFI officers who were carrying out an early morning sea patrol off the island on 12 July 2025.
The case was heard at Castlebar District Court on Thursday 16 April.
The court was told that fisheries officers were on patrol in the area using a Delta RIB when a boat was observed with a person onboard operating an illegal salmon net.
Officers intercepted O’Leary, cautioned him at the location and seized the 190m salmon net.
O’Leary was instructed to pay €500 in fines and €2,614 in legal costs.
Commenting on the case, Liam Gavin, IFI’s acting Western Director (Galway) said: “Illegal salmon fishing is a direct threat to the survival of this iconic and vulnerable species. Wild Atlantic salmon stocks are, worryingly, in continued decline.
“IFI will continue to take robust enforcement, conservation, restoration and advocacy measures to protect wild salmon and reverse this decline.”
