Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Press Release 16th June 2009
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board has successfully won a court case against Mr. Edward Thomas from Bray, Co. Wicklow for illegal salmon fishing on the River Dargle in Co. Wicklow. The details of this case were heard at Bray District Court on 11th June. Mr. Edward Thomas was found to be illegally fishing in January 2009. A Fisheries officer from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board apprehended him for using a strokehaul to catch salmon out of season on the River Dargle in Bray and initiated court proceedings. Both sides were represented in court and Mr. Thomas pleaded guilty. Judge Murrough Connellon convicted Mr. Thomas under Sections 137 and 166 of the 1959 Fisheries Act, for using a strokehaul for the purpose of taking fish and for fishing during the closed season. He sentenced him Mr. Thomas to 7 days imprisonment but suspended the sentence for 12 months. He also ordered the forfeiture of the equipment which had been used in the commission of the offence.
In recent years the numbers of salmon have declined and to combat this a series of conservation measures were introduced nationally. In 2006 the interceptory mixed stock fishery for salmon ceased around Ireland and the majority of rivers on the East coast were closed for angling, including the River Dargle. At the peak of salmon production in the 1970’s there would have been a few hundred salmon running the Dargle River. What made the river exceptional was that the size of its sea trout averaged 4-5lbs which is much greater than any other river on the East coast. The stocks in the river declined dramatically in the last few years when only a handful of fish were caught. Consequently the Dargle river remains closed for recreational salmon fishing until such time as salmon stocks recover sufficiently to sustain a catchable quota.
Funding has recently been awarded under an EU Interreg programme to the Central Fisheries Board who are working in conjunction with other stakeholders on a project known as ‘Celtic Sea Trout’. This will be evaluating sea trout stocks in the Irish Sea for the purposes of improving the management of this valuable fishery.
It is hoped that these all of these measures will preserve our stock of Atlantic salmon, which are not only a valuable resource for our economy, but also an important part of our natural heritage as salmon and trout have been running our rivers since the last ice age. Anglers also need to continue to be vigilant to report any illegal fishing incidences to the Board.
Josie Mahon,
Eastern Regional Fisheries Board,
15A Main Street, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin.
Tel: 01 278 7022 / 087 6538202
email: josie.mahon@erfb.ie
Website: www.fishingireland.net Email: info@erfb.ie
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board is a statutory authority whose function is to conserve, develop, protect, manage and promote the inland fisheries and sea angling resources within its jurisdiction. The Region extends from the border in Northern Ireland to South of the Wexford coast and includes all catchments which enter the sea between these boundaries. For further information, please visit www.fishingireland.net