Man convicted for illegally using spear and lamp to take spawning salmon

Press Release 21st September 2011

At a sitting of Nenagh District Court last week Mr Ilgonis Kuziks of Ballysheedy, Co. Limerick was successfully prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland for poaching salmon on spawning grounds in the Newport River, which is part of the Mulkear catchment. Mr Kuziks was taking fish illegally by spearing salmon as they were on gravel beds attempting to lay their eggs at night last December. The judge imposed a fine of €1750.

Photograph shows the seized fish and custom made equipment

Photograph attached shows the seized fish

Last winter on the Newport River near Newport, Co. Tipperary, Fisheries Officers on a night patrol encountered a group of individuals who were armed with spears and lamps. After a thorough search of the area officers uncovered 3 wild hen salmon, spears and lamps. While two of the individuals escaped, officers successfully apprehended Mr Kuziks and he was convicted of illegal salmon fishing.

Wild Atlantic salmon are under severe threat nationally and internationally with numbers declining annually. The Mulkear river is one of only two rivers which meets its salmon Conservation Limit in the Shannon River Basin District. Currently the river holds excellent stocks of wild salmon but incidents such as these are extremely detrimental and will threaten its status and may ultimately result in the river being closed to angling. The river is managed by the Mulkear River Fishery Partnership.

Welcoming the successful outcome of the case which was due to the commitment of Inland Fisheries Ireland staff , Ms Amanda Mooney, Director at Inland Fisheries Ireland, Limerick stated today that “this is the second case taken in recent times for this illegal activity in the Mulkear catchment. Poaching of spawning salmon is unacceptable and an environmental crime. These fish are the future survival of the species and the means why which the Newport area can improve its tourism offering and add value to the local economy. As we are now entering a new spawning season on our rivers, I would urge the general public with any information to pass it onto us for investigation.”

Help protect your wild salmon stocks by reporting illegal activity to IFI on 1890 34 74 24 day or night.

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Photograph attached shows the seized fish and custom made equipment

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Media Enquiries

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

Notes to Editor

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.