Latest news with #InlandFisheriesIreland
Irish Examiner
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Coarse angling world championship coming to Cork
Ireland will, for the first time, host a coarse angling world championship with more than 20 countries competing at a venue in Co Cork. Coachford will be epicentre for the two-day event which is expected to generate a vital cash injection from the visiting competitors along with their friends and families as anglers are traditionally big spenders in local hotels, B&Bs, pubs and restaurants. The world championships float fishing event for the representatives of the angling clubs in their countries will take place on July 26/27. The event is being hosted by the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland (NCFFI) on the Inniscarra reservoir at Coachford. Representing Ireland will be BSI Sensas AC and the CM Lakelands Club who will be hoping for a podium finish on home waters. It is the 44th such world championships and the event will be hosted in partnership with the ESB, Cork County Council, and Inland Fisheries Ireland. Many of the elite team members recently travelled to the Inniscarra venue to check it out. Before the fishermen cast off there will be a 'Parade of Nations' with the anglers marching through Coachford on Monday, July 21. It will coincide with a family-friendly event. It is anticipated that the event will generate more than 2,000 bed nights for the region, providing a welcome boost to local businesses and also reinforcing Inniscarra's reputation as a world-class angling destination. The event is expected to be covered by a number of TV fishing channels, which will hopefully increase its profile and entice more foreign anglers to visit. Suzanne Campion, the acting chief executive of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), said the angling sector contributes almost €1bn to the Irish economy every year and supports over 11,000 Irish jobs and this event 'will provide a significant and welcome boost to the local economy". The competition will take place along a stretch of the reservoir which includes the panoramic 2,8km linear park and the Coachford Greenway, which has Sport Ireland National Trails status. The organisers are appealing for volunteers to sign up as stewards for the event saying they need in the region of 120 people to aid monitoring the activities of the anglers and keep a note of the fish caught. Volunteers can contact event organisers Tommy Lawton at tommylawton4@ or at 086 104 3040 and Helen Rainsford at email pr@ or 0044 7711 607200.
The Journal
14-07-2025
- The Journal
Investigation launched after more than 1,000 fish found dead in Co Cavan
INLAND FISHERIES IRELAND (IFI) have launched an investigation into a 'significant' fish kill in Co Cavan that left more than 1,000 fish dead. The incident was recorded along a 1km stretch of the Ballinagh River in Co Cavan. IFI was alerted to a contamination impact in the water by a member of the public on Sunday evening. Environmental and fisheries staff identified brown trout, stickleback minnow and roach among the species discovered dead. Water samples have been taken from the scene, and IFI is following a definite line of enquiry into the suspected source of the pollution. Dr Milton Matthews, director of IFI's North-Western River Basin District, said high temperatures and low-flow conditions 'do not appear to be the primary cause of this incident'. Advertisement Mixed species, including juvenile trout, floating at the site. Inland Fisheries Ireland Inland Fisheries Ireland 'The needless loss of so many young fish, at a time when Ireland's natural environment is already under considerable pressure, is deeply disappointing,' Matthews said. IFI said it will continue to actively examine the cause of the harmful ecological event at the river. The organisation is appealing to people to report instances of fish kills or suspected water pollution through its 24-hour confidential phoneline 0818 34 74 24. Separately, IFI officers responded to a fish kill in Co Cork last week in which at least 1,500 fish died. It happened on Ballybrack stream, a small tributary of the Douglas River flowing near Douglas village in Cork. The dead fish were primarily brown trout and European eels. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
10-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Fish kill in Cork's Douglas River wiped out 1,500 trout and eels
Investigations are underway into an alarming fish kill in Cork's Douglas River that claimed the lives of 1,500 fish including brown trout and European eels. The pollution occurred in Ballybrack stream, which is a minor tributary of the Douglas River flowing near Douglas village. The fish kill stretched across a distance of 1.5km. Initial indications suggest the presence of a chemical in the watercourse. The Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) were alerted to the pollution by a member of the public. The incident has prompted an appeal from the organisation, which is reminding the public to store and dispose of household chemicals safely. Low water flow and increased temperatures have both been ruled out as possible causes. An IFI senior fisheries environmental officer has visited the site of the incident, which was believed to have occurred on July 9. The organisation will continue its probe in the coming weeks to identify the root cause of the pollution. However, it is too early to determine a definite source. IFI is encouraging the public to report instances of fish kills or water pollution to its 24-7 phone number, 0818 347424. Read More Investigation after discharge and fish kill reports close to Cork oil refinery Save our rivers: Blackwater under pressure as the number of pristine tributaries has halved
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Owner of Cork hydro-electric plant has one charge dismissed against him over salmon protection
Progress has been made in works to prevent salmon becoming trapped in the waters around a hydro-electric plant on the River Lee and on Wednesday the owner was given the benefit of a dismissal of one charge under the Probation Act. Judge Joanne Carroll made this decision on one of the charges brought by Inland Fisheries Ireland against Dan Twomey who has a hydro facility on the River Lee, south of the old Cork waterworks and directly across the river from the Kingsley Hotel. However, further works are necessary. Judge Carroll said that if additional work was done to the satisfaction of Inland Fisheries by July 16 the second charge would also be dismissed under the Probation Act. If it is not done the judge warned that a fine of up to €4,500 could be imposed. The judge recalled that after hearing the case last December she found the facts proved and adjourned the case until Wednesday for penalty so that remedial works could be done. Grating that was three inches wide is now no more than two inches wide, it was confirmed by Charles O'Connor, defence solicitor. Senior IFI environmental officer Michael McPartland agreed this was done. The second issue was in relation to the padlocking of the gates. Solicitor for IFI Vincent Coakley said that not all the gates had padlocks. Mr O'Connor said the defendant would have all the locks in place in time for a joint inspection before the adjourned date in July. Mr McPartland said in December 2024, that at that time the grates needed to have bars with not more than two inches between them but that they were approximately three inches wide at this plant. Secondly, he said that there was a second breach in that some of the gratings were found open when inspected. These are required to be kept in good repair and in a manner preventing their opening or removal. Mr McPartland explained in relation to the salmon: 'If they get trapped in there they have no reverse gear to get out so the lifecycle will not be completed.' In relation to flood waters getting over the height of the grating, Mr Twomey said: 'There is floods in the river and then there is the Inniscarra Dam and I have no control of either – I'm not God.'
Irish Examiner
12-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
Uncle and nephew fined for illegal salmon fishing near West Cork island
An uncle and nephew have been convicted in the district court of illegally fishing for wild salmon in waters near Dursey Island in West Cork. Bernard O'Leary from Dursey Island and his nephew John O'Leary from Templemartin, Bandon, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to a total of 11 charges in relation to illegal fishing activities in July 2024. Giving evidence, Fisheries Officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland Dermot Long said that a covert operation had been set up in the early hours of July 10, 2024, at Dursey Sound. Mr Long said that Bernard and John O'Leary were observed through scopes from 6.30am in the waters to the north of Dursey Island. The two men were observed catching several salmon with nets and placing them into a large canvas bag on their boat. Mr Long said that by the time the men stopped fishing at 3pm it was estimated they had placed 12 to 15 salmon in the bag. Mr Long said that the bag was so heavy it required the two men to lift it when they went ashore to the island for a break. They were observed returning to the boat at 4.30pm when they resumed fishing for another three hours. They again came ashore with a canvas bag full of salmon and loaded it into a Toyota Landcruiser. At this point Mr Long said the decision was taken to intercept the two men at the pier. When they were approached, Bernard O'Leary was described as uncooperative. Mr Long said that Bernard O'Leary got back in the boat ignoring an officer's demand that he stop and went across Dursey Sound to the island where he got in a jeep on the other side and drove off. Mr Long said that John O'Leary was fully co-operative and 'couldn't have been more helpful'. He said that 13 salmon were seized from the afternoon catch and the jeep was also seized, though it was returned after about six months. Mr Long said that he could not seize the net or the salmon the O'Learys caught in the morning because Bernard O'Leary refused to co-operate. Mr Long said that John O'Leary had asked Bernard O'Leary on his behalf to surrender the salmon and the net but he did not do so. Defence solicitor Brian Harrington said that both men had no previous convictions of any kind and were pleading guilty. He said that John O'Leary accepted he had 'made a mistake which has caused him an awful lot of embarrassment'. He said the jeep that was seized was one that he had borrowed which added further embarrassment to the situation. Mr Harrington said that Bernard O'Leary had retired from fishing many years ago and maintained a small flock of sheep on Dursey Island. He said that Mr O'Leary was available on the island if officers had called to him. Sentencing Judge Joanne Carroll said that it was a very serious matter and that Bernard O'Leary 'cannot live on Dursey Island and not realise it is illegal to go out and fish wild salmon with nets'. The judge said 'it was more than a mistake, it was a criminal act,' and she suspected that Bernard O'Leary had sold the fish that were not recovered which would fetch up to €100 each on the black market 'unless he gave them to the cat'. John O'Leary was convicted and fined €1,000 for the possession of the 13 salmon and €500 for illegally fishing with drift nets. The other three charges against him were struck out. Bernard O'Leary was convicted and fined €1,500 for obstruction, €1,500 for the illegal possession of salmon and €1,000 for fishing with drift nets. A further three charges were taken into consideration. Both men were given six months to pay the fines and recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed in their own bond of €100. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
