Bord Iascaigh Réigiúnach an Oirthir
Press Release 2nd April 2007
The Eastern Regional Fisheries Board is to roll out an information campaign to create awareness for the new pike and coarse conservation bye-laws. Following a number of incidents involving the netting of coarse fish and illegal bait and angling methods, the Board has recently produced large information signs in 9 different languages (English, Irish, French, German, Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Hungarian and Russian) detailing a summary of the new pike and coarse laws. These signs will shortly be placed at lakes in the region. In addition to this, the Board has also produced a leaflet detailing the laws in the same languages listed on the signs. This small pocket sized leaflet will be distributed to tackle shops in the region and will also be available to order from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board website www.fishingireland.net
Protect our Pike and Coarse Fish: Download the leaflet here, [.pdf, 5 MB].
The aim of this campaign is to ensure anglers of all nationalities are aware of our conservation laws in order to protect our stocks. The new bye-laws provide the Fisheries Board with improved legislation to prosecute offenders more effectively. ‘The Board has put a great deal of resources into this area and to date a number of fines have been imposed, we hope the protection work carried out by staff in addition to the information campaign will highlight the problem and decrease incidents as a result’, stated Pat Doherty, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board.
As always, the assistance of anglers and angling clubs who report any incidences of illegal activity is greatly appreciated by the Board and these matters will be acted on immediately. Anyone found guilty of poaching or illegal fishing can expect a substantial fine and seizure of fishing equipment and fish caught.
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Media enquiries: Marketing Coordinator, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board,
Tel: 087 2746127 email: hazel.dobbyn@erfb.ie
In the interest of conservation it is recommended that all pike be returned alive to the water
The following laws have been introduced to conserve our pike and coarse fish stocks. Breaches of these laws could lead to the confiscation of rods, boats and tackle. Heavy fines can also be imposed.
In the Pike and Coarse Angling Bye laws “coarse fish” means any fresh water fish other than pike, salmon, trout , eels or minnow;
It is prohibited to kill more than 1 pike in any one day,
It is prohibited to kill any pike greater than 50 cm in length,
It is prohibited for any person to have in their possession more than 1 whole pike less than 50 cm or more than 0.75 kgs of pike flesh.
(i) It is prohibited for a person to have in his or her possession more than 12 coarse fish for use as bait in fishing for pike
Where a person has more than 4 coarse fish in his or her possession for use as bait in fishing for pike, the person, in respect of fish in excess of that number and subject to the paragraph (i) above must have –
(a) Obtained the fish from a fish tackle dealer or fish bait supplier registered with the Regional Board in whose fisheries Region the dealer or supplier carries on business,
And
(b) Obtained and retained a receipt of their purchase.
A person shall not take and kill by any means more than 4 coarse fish on any one day.
A person shall not take and kill by any means any coarse fish greater than 25 cm in length measured in a straight line from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail.
Any coarse fish taken inadvertently in contravention of this Bye-law must be handled carefully and returned without avoidable injury to the waters from which they have been taken
It is prohibited for any person, other than in the Louth Area or Moville Area, to sell or offer for sale any coarse fish caught by any means.
“Louth Area” has the meaning assigned to it by section 31 of the British –Irish Agreement Act 1999 (No.1 of 1999);
“Moville Area” has the meaning assigned to it by section 2 of the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952 (No.5 of 1952).
It is prohibited to use or attempt to use live fish as bait in fishing in fresh water.
It is prohibited to transfer for any purpose live roach (Rutilus rutilus) from any waters to any other waters
It is prohibited to fish for pike or coarse fish by any means whatsoever other than by rod and line
A person may not attempt to fish for pike or coarse fish in freshwater with more than two (2) rods at any one time
A copy of the full Bye Laws governing the above regulations are available from the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board – info@erfb.ie or (01) 2787022