40 illegal fishing items seized in 2017

THREE DINGHIES AND 1,000 METRES OF NETS AMONG 40 ITEMS SEIZED IN KERRY

ALMOST 1,000 metres of nets, a stroke-haul, and three dinghies were among 40 illegal items seized by Inland Fisheries Ireland in Kerry districts last year.

The information was released in a publication of the IFI’s key statistics for 2017. The items were seized across the districts of Kerry, Listowel, West Kerry, and Kenmare.

Most of the items were seized in the Kerry and Listowel districts, with many of the biggest finds happening in Listowel.

On July 30 alone, IFI officials seized two dinghies and a 46-metre sea net in the Shannon estuary. Just nine days later, a 100-metre sea net and a dinghy were seized in the same location.

Also in the Listowel district, five freshwater nets were seized in the Feale’s tidal waters on June 20, totalling 52 metres between them. On July 18, three sea nets, 170 metres between them, were seized in the Shannon estuary.

The four items found in Kenmare included a stroke-haul, which is a weighted item used to foul-hook fish without bait. It was seized from the Roughty river. It was one of just three such items seized nationwide last year.

Other locations in Kerry where items were seized included Derrymore, Waterville, Caragh, Castlegregory, the Laune estuary, the Lee river, the Inny river, the Galey tidal waters, and Keel.

While Kerry was among the most prominent counties mentioned in the report, it trailed other areas significantly in terms of the number of items caught and the severity of the incidents.

The IFI Galway office seized over 150 illegal items in 2017, while more than 60 items were seized in the Cavan district, including 30 floats in one day at Lough Inchin. On June 23 last, 40 illegally caught salmon were seized from a vehicle in Mayo.