Court case for having two sea bass

A RECREATIONAL fisherman who was found in possession of two sea bass when the law only allows for one was brought before Cahersiveen District Court for breaching fishing regulations.

The court heard that the Inland Fisheries officers had come across William Browne while on routine patrol and found that he had two sea bass in his possession.

Mr Browne with an address at Stoneshed, Farrantoreen, Killorglin, was detected at or near the slip at Dooks, Glenbeigh, in possession of two sea bass, in breach of fishing regulations on May 13, 2019 at 1.55pm.

Solicitor Vincent Coakley, who represented Inland Fisheries Ireland, said the law permits only one sea bass.

Mr Coakley said that the regulations do change from year to year but, at the time, it was illegal to have two sea bass.

In defence, Mr Browne’s solicitor stated that he had caught both fish with one shot of his spear gun, which he was using for fishing on the day in question.

Both were dead so he did not return one to the water. He said that it was different to the regular fish-and-hook with which one fish could be caught.

“It was not practical to put a dead fish back to the sea,” he said, adding that in 2018 two sea bass were allowed under the fishing regulations and in 2019 only one was allowed.

This year, two sea bass are allowed, the court was told.

Mr Browne (53) is a recreational fisherman who was wearing a wetsuit and flippers and carried a spear gun for fishing, the court was told.

Fisheries officers informed him on the day that his spear gun was illegal, but this was not the case.

Judge David Waters said he would not give Mr Brown a conviction. He was ordered to pay a €250 donation to the RNLI by February 13 to avoid a conviction. He was further ordered to pay €200 costs, as requested by Inland Fisheries Ireland.