Dublin men convicted and heavily fined for illegal fishing in Laois

Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) says it has secured convictions against two men for illegal netting, with fines and costs reaching €8,000.

The agency says Valiulis Dalius and Bloslanas Dzapbarovas, both of Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24 were prosecuted for using a net to capture fish in freshwater river/lakes, and for keeping up a continued net stretched across any river.

The incident happened on the Grand Canal near Monasterevin, in the townland of Killinure, Co Laois on May 27, 2023. Both men were fined €3,000 each, and had to pay €1,000 in legal costs each. This case was finalised at Portlaoise District Court on February 16, 2024.

The offences were in contravention of Section 95(1) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, and Section 91(1)(d) of the same Act, as amended by Section 77 of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010.

Lynda Connor, South Eastern River Basin District Director at IFI, commented after the court outcome in a statement issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. 

“The protection of our freshwater fish species is extremely important in an era when there are numerous pressures impacting Ireland’s environment. I commend our local IFI protection officers for their unwavering commitment in protecting our fisheries resource,” she said.

Inland Fisheries Ireland continues to encourage the public to report illegal fishing incidents, or those relating to water pollution, habitat destruction, or fish kills, to its 24/7 confidential phone number, 0818 34 74 24.

IFI says it is the State environmental agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and managing Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. Its core mission is to protect freshwater fish and their habitats. It was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010, and operates under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

There are more than 300 people working at IFI in locations nationwide, and it manages a budget of approximately €32m annually. The agency has statutory responsibility for Ireland’s 74,000 km of rivers and streams, together with 128,000 lake hectares. It also has a coastline patrol jurisdiction of 12 nautical miles. Fisheriesireland.ie