Sale of Irish bass in Dublin restaurant

I was in a restaurant on Georges's Street in Dublin City Centre last night.
I asked one of the floor manager's did they sell bass.
She said 'Sea bass?'.
I said 'yes'.
She said 'yes, we sell sea bass'.
I said 'Where is it from?'.
She said 'Ireland'.
I said 'Ireland?'.
She said 'yes, we get it from XXXXXXXXXXXXX Irish bass. It's delicious. It comes on the bone. Are you going to try it?'.
I said 'no, not tonight thanks.

I have reported the incident to the fisheries boards.

I would encourage anyone eating in restaurants around Ireland to investigate where their bass come from and report any illegal activity.

Regards,
John D.

Good job. Let us know if you hear anything back.

XXXXX don't sell Irish bass. Many fish mongers and restaurants are load to admit they sell imported bass. Even though this is a repeated comment it is still liable.

Donagh

I edited name of company

Donagh is right, fish suppliers and the restaurant staff don't know or wont admit where the items on the menu come from, all sales talk.

My son runs his own restaurant in Dublin, he is a mad keen angler and knows more about fish and where they come from than any of his suppliers, they used to try the bullsh*t until he put them straight...they're making trouble for themselves by making claims that are false just to try and pass Bass from God-knows-where off as Irish.

Let us know what you find out though.

Tom.

I should of also totally agree with reporting it just in case. As we know the bass being netted off the shore is going somewhere.

Donagh

Yep, I agree with that. It's worth reporting because it lets the fisheries boards and the retailers that there are people who care. Even if the fish are legit, the restaurant and wholesaler should get a call or visit, which is no harm at all.

I had a similar situation a while back with a chef on Ireland AM (TV3) cooking what he called "Irish" bass. He got a call from the fisheries board and admitted that the fish were imported. Ireland AM also found out more about bass, poaching, etc, than they probably wanted ... :D

no good if we dont know what est not to eat in

it will be interesting to see if anything comes of this

i think it is common place to say it irish even if it is imported

but arent they by law required to say if its imported with all the talk about argentinian beef etc?

False advertising at least, I'd have said!

Hi everyone,

I got a message from a fisheries board inspector yesterday.

I have been informed that the dealers paperwork has been checked, all fish have been sourced in France.

It seems to have been a case of false (and illegal) advertisement of selling Irish bass.

Regards,
John D.

im not up to date with legislation with bass.....i haven't a notion but just to clarify what are the general rules regarding bass??

Summarising:

Cannot sell or offer for sale bass caught in Ireland

Cannot fish commercially for bass

Cannot fish for bass using nets

Anglers cannot be in posession of more than two bass over 40cm in any 24 hour period.

Any bass under 40cm caught by anglers must be returned alive.

Cannot fish for bass from 15th May to 15th June.

Text of the laws available from Department of Ag. Fisheries and Food webste or on the Irish Bass website:

http://www.irishbass.org/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=37

thanks teacher....not sure i will ever ctch a bass but just to be certain

Restaurant owner in Dungarvan was fined in court for sale of Irish Bass - report in the Dungarvan People this week - will scan and post article if I get a chance...

something like that should be made more public so restaurant owners are awaret that prosecution is possible for those who don't abide by these laws :!:

the fact that all bass must be certified to be imported should put most people off chancing illegal fish but like salmon i am sure someone in this country will find a way around it if their is a buck to be made ,the fact that we have a law in place atall is a good thing look at the uk even more of a mess!!!its good to hear your complaint was followed up and acted upon ,well done to the fisheries board 8)

Another problem is the selling of Irish bass outside the Republic. Is this covered by this law?

Strickly speaking, an Irish law can't prevent you from selling Irish bass outside the jurisdiction. However, it is illegal to fish for them in the first place, keep them on a boat and ship them out of the country. Here's the relevant wording:

4. Neither an Irish sea-fishing boat nor a person on board an Irish sea-fishing boat shall engage in fishing for bass in the specified areas and the master of an Irish seafishing boat shall not cause or permit the boat or any person on board to engage in such fishing in the specified areas.

5. It is hereby prohibited to fish or to attempt to fish for bass using nets in the specified areas.

6. (a) An Irish sea-fishing boat shall not have bass on board within the specified areas. (b) The master of an Irish sea-fishing boat shall not cause or permit the boat or any person on board to have bass on board within the specified areas.

7. The master of an Irish sea-fishing boat shall not cause or permit the boat to be used within the specified areas for the transhipment of bass from a sea-fishing boat.

Does this cover the Foyle Fisheries area as well? Not ther NI part, the Republic part.