Two men convicted for illegal netting of Salmon in the Waterford Estuary

Press Release July 21st, 2011

At a sitting of the District Court held at Ardcavan, Co. Wexford on the 20thof July 2011, Judge Donnacha O’ Buachallaconvicted Richard Butler Junior and Richard Butler Senior, Duncannon, Co. Wexford for illegally drift netting for Salmon in the Waterford Estuary. All drift netting for Salmon has been made illegal on conservation grounds since 2006. The offences took place at approximately 3am on the 27th of August 2010.

During evidence Fishery Officer Maurice Browne and Assistant Inspector Fran Igoe explained how Mr. Richard Butler Junior and Mr. Richard Butler Senior were fishing with a 390 yard long drift net and in possession of Salmon in the Waterford estuary near Duncannon on the night of the 27th of August. Judge Donnacha O’ Buachallaconvicted the two men on two separate counts, imposed fines totalling€1,000 and awarded Inland Fisheries Ireland costs of €1181.60 and expenses of €356.80. Mr. Richard Butler Senior had previously been licenced to fish for Salmon before the introduction of the ban on drift net fishing. Mr. Richard Butler Junior had fished as a nominee on this licence.

Mr. David Mc Inerney, RBD Director of Inland Fisheries Ireland, commended the dedication of the fishery officers in protecting the vulnerable salmon stocks. ‘The success of the conservation measures implemented since 2006 can now be seen as the Nore reopened to angling and commercial fishing in 2009 and the Suir in 2011’ he stated. ‘ This activity is an environmental crime’.

It is widely known that netting for Salmon in the Estuary is illegal and any such illegal netting could have devastating consequences on our valuable Salmon resource, even the closure of the fishery once again due to inadequate spawners reaching the spawning beds. Such a closure would impact on recreational angling and the livelihoods of commercial fishermen, angling tourism providers and the sustainable economic development of the region.Commercial salmon fishing, subject to licence and quota, is permitted by fishermen who have not availed of the Salmon Hardship Scheme.

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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 (IFI)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.

IFI has a strong regional presence throughout Ireland. The above matter was dealt with by personnel from the IFI Clonmel office who have responsibility for the South Eastern River Basin District (SERBD)