Kerry pig farming company convicted on pollution charges
PRESS RELEASE, Monday, 14th March 2016
Kerry pig farming company convicted on pollution charges
At a sitting of Tralee District Court on 24th February, Judge James O’Connor convicted Michael McAuliffe Ltd, a Kerry-based pig farming company, in relation to a pollution incident arising from its premises at Fahaduff, Castleisland, Co. Kerry.
Pollution of a River Maine tributary stream had been noted by fisheries staff on 10th June 2015. Extensive sewage fungus growth and water discolouration were observed over two kilometres of channel length, downstream of a contaminated surface drain discharging from the defendant’s farm premises.
Photo showing the discolouration of water in a tributary stream of the River Maine, Co. Kerry, during a pollution incident in June 2015. The photo was taken 20 metres downstream of the pollution source.
Michael McAuliffe Ltd pleaded guilty to two charges, a breach of Section 3(2) of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act 1977 and Section 171(1) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959.
Judge James O’Connor found the defendant company guilty of both charges, imposing a fine of €500 on the first charge and marking the conviction on the second charge as “taken into consideration”. Costs and expenses were awarded to Inland Fisheries Ireland to the sum of €2,603 with the defendant company given seven months to pay.
Commenting on the case, Dr. Ciaran Byrne, CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, said: “Protection of fish stocks is vital to maintaining an extremely valuable natural resource for the benefit of local and tourist anglers alike. Recreational angling in Ireland is worth over €836 million to the economy and supports over 11,000 jobs. Salmon and sea trout, in particular, depend on good water quality to survive, and IFI is committed to protecting water quality in our rivers and lakes.”
Photo showing the natural water clarity in a tributary stream of the River Maine, Co. Kerry, during a pollution incident in June 2015. The photo was taken upstream of the pollution source and is in stark contrast to the photo taken immediately downstream of the pollution source.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the general public to report incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.
For more information, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie.
ENDS
Further Information: Suzanne Campion
Head of Business Development
Inland Fisheries Ireland
Anglesea Street,
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Note for Editors:
Photo captions:
Maine Pollution Case 1: Photo showing the discolouration of water in a tributary stream of the River Maine, Co. Kerry, during a pollution incident in June 2015. The photo was taken 20 metres downstream of the pollution source.
Maine Pollution Case 2: Photo showing the natural water clarity in a tributary stream of the River Maine, Co. Kerry, during a pollution incident in June 2015. The photo was taken upstream of the pollution source and is in stark contrast to the photo taken immediately downstream of the pollution source.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling, and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.
Salmon and sea trout angling in Ireland is worth €210 million to the economy and supports 3,200 jobs. Angling in general is worth €836 million and supports over 11,000 jobs (source: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/socio-economics/527-the-economic-contribution-of-salmon-and-sea-trout-angling-in-ireland/file; see also TDI Socio-Economic Study of Recreational Anglers, 2013: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/media/tdistudyonrecreationalangling.pdf)
The River Maine is an important salmon and sea trout angling river in Co. Kerry, supporting recreational angling for local people and tourism angling businesses in the area.
