Four individuals have been slapped with fines exceeding €6,000 following their guilty verdicts for different illegal offences involving salmon fishing in County Sligo. Inland Fisheries Ireland released a statement on Friday, acknowledging these events which culminated in verdicts at the Sligo District Court, on March 5th, 2024.
Killybegs resident, Gerard McGuinness, in the first of four cases, was spotted donned in a wetsuit and snorkelling kit, swimming towards a 100-metre net stationed offshore with a motive to seize salmon. Fisheries authorities interacted with Mr McGuinness, eventually procuring 200 metres worth of salmon nets. For his transgression, he was slapped with a fine of €2,000, required to cover costs worth €750 to the IFI, and his equipment was taken into custody.
The aforementioned incident happened between April 28th and 29th, 2023 at Roskeeragh Point, in Mullaghmore. A second illegal fishing case involved Jack Cunniffe of Fatima Avenue, Co Sligo. He was caught capturing a salmon in a designated catch-and-release river and consequently pocketing it in a rucksack, eyeing an escape on his bike. His offence earned him a €100 fine together with additional charges of €750 to be paid to IFI. His gear was also seized.
This was on July 22nd, 2023, at the Garavogue river in Abbeyquarter North. Additionally, he was unable to show a salmon licence when demanded by fisheries inspectors. John Sweeney from Cranmore, together with Michael Sweeney of Caltragh Crescent, both in County Sligo, were found guilty for inability to present their salmon licences or permits for fishing at the Ballisodare fishery, dated June 30th, 2023.
IFI staff had reported that when they were approached by an IFI assistant inspector during a surveillance assignment, the pair abandoned their equipment and made a swift exit. They were each fined €500 and must reimburse €750 in costs to IFI.
Mary Walsh, IFI’s Western River Basin, Ballina Director, elaborated, “Protecting Ireland’s wild Atlantic salmon inventory is a critical goal for Inland Fisheries Ireland to ensure the prosperity of these emblematic fish. The tenacity of our fisheries officers in protecting state fisheries assets in these matters is highly commendable.”
Inland Fisheries Ireland persistently urges the public to inform them about any occurrences of unlawful fishing, water contamination, habitat devastation, or fish deaths. Such reports can be confidentially made at any time by contacting their 24/7 phone-line, 0818 34 74 24.