Ballina man convicted of poaching offence
PRESS RELEASE - Tuesday, 2nd February 2016
Ballina man convicted of poaching offence
At a sitting of Ballina District Court on 26th January 2016, Judge Conal Gibbons convicted a Ballina man of illegal fishing. Freddie Harmon, with an address at 29 The Hawthorns, Killala Road, Ballina, was found guilty of possession of a net at Cloonslaun on the River Moy on 9th June 2015.
Judge Gibbons heard that Fishery Officer Eddie Doherty was on patrol with Officer Brian Flannery when he observed a person swimming in the water. The judge was told that when approached, the man escaped into a nearby field, while a second man ran off and was not found. The defendant was found hiding in a bush, wearing a wetsuit, and a buoyancy aid was also found nearby. The court heard that Mr. Harmon admitted to possession of the net in the river, which was retrieved, as well as a bag containing a second net on the bank.
Judge Gibbons heard from the defending solicitor, pleading for leniency, that poaching had been ongoing for years and had a minor impact on fish stocks compared to other factors such as seals, and that the defendant was of limited means. However, the judge rejected this argument. After examining the nets seized, and observing that the defendant had worn a wetsuit to carry out the offence, he said that the defendant was well prepared and the poaching was obviously planned. The judge outlined the importance of protecting fish stocks, and convicted Mr. Harmon of illegal possession of a net, fining him €1,000 with €500 costs. Both nets were also ordered to be forfeited.
Commenting on the case, Dr. John Conneely of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) commended the Fishery Officers involved. He said: “Protection of fish stocks is vital to maintaining an extremely valuable natural resource for the benefit of local and tourist anglers. Recreational angling in Ireland is worth over €750 million to the economy and supports over 10,000 jobs. IFI staff are committed to protecting that resource, working in difficult conditions and bad weather to do so, and their vigilance and dedication is highly valued.”
Dr Ciaran Byrne, CEO of IFI, noted: “Environmental crime such as this is unacceptable. I cannot stress enough to those who may be tempted to take fish illegally, including buying a wild salmon from a dubious source, that such activity is impacting jobs and the ability of rural areas to be sustainable and support communities. IFI urgently needs the assistance of the public who can support fisheries staff, and their own communities, by reporting all instances of illegal fishing or pollution on the IFI confidential hotline number at 1890 347424.”
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:
Inland Fisheries Irelandis 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, part of an overall resource including sea angling and coarse angling that generates over €750 million and supports over 10,000 jobs. The River Moy is the most prolific salmon river in Ireland, with numerous fisheries and angling clubs, and hundreds of local members. It attracts large numbers of tourist anglers from all over the world, and is vital to the local tourist economy.
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.
