Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Press Release 12/09/2009
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board has successfully won a court case against Mr. James Carson, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan for having an illegal salmon in his possession. He was fined €150 and ordered to pay total costs of €1608 to the Board in Carrickmacross District Court on 4th November last.
On 27th February last, fisheries officers from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board apprehended Mr. Carson at Magoney Bridge on the River Fane. He was found to have a spent salmon which had been caught out of season and court proceedings were initiated. Both sides were represented in court and Mr. Carson pleaded guilty. Judge McBride convicted Mr. Carson under Section 176 of the 1959 Fisheries Act, for having in his possession an unseasonable salmon.
In 2006 a series of conservation measures were introduced nationally in order to combat the decline in salmon numbers. The interceptory mixed stock fishery for salmon ceased throughout Ireland and netsmen who availed of the Hardship Scheme were duly compensated for their loss of the salmon fishery. At the peak of salmon production in the 1970’s, approximately 3,000 salmon were caught commercially in Dundalk waters. This declined to an all time low in 2006 when only 225 were caught in the entire Dundalk bay area. Consequently all the rivers on the East coast with the exception of the River Fane have been closed for salmon fishing in recent years until such time as salmon stocks recover sufficiently to sustain a catchable quota.
With a quota of 273 salmon on the River Fane in 2009 it is imperative that our salmon stocks are protected. It is hoped that 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.
Ashley Hayden, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, 15A Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Tel: 00353 (0)1 278 7022, Mobile: 00353 (0)87 274 6127
Email: ashley.hayden@erfb.ie Website: www.fishingireland.net
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