East Cork Beach, 16/4

Report it to the central fisheries board

Done already

A venue that has recently produced Bass, has all of a sudden got guys applying for Mullet netting licenses. funny how, a few years ago, nobody was interested in mullet in the same area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hypocracy - whats the point in the laws - no enforcement

restaurants in lahinch selling guaranteed local bass and the local fisheries board aint interested

The lastet on the "nets" in east Cork. I've had the S.W.F.B. on to this problem since last Monday morning. Had also contacted some people on the coast to keep an eye on things and to ring one of the officers, I gave them his mobile number, the S.W.F.B. would also keep an eye on it.
Got a phone call this afternoon from him. Fisheries officers went out this morning at 6 am. in two ribs and checked all the bouys no nets were found all that was attached to the bouys was a rope and an anchor.
No nets or pots were found.

What is need now is to id the boat that put them there and watch what his next move will be. Without hard proof of netting for Bass the S.W.F.B. can do no more the keep an eye on things. I must thank the S.W.F.B. for putting in the effort. I've been out a six in the morning before with them I've seen the work they do.

I used to travel down to west Cork for my Bass fishing, and must say that the SWFB, were visible,at times, which gives you a bit of hope, though my favourite beach was ruined, which sadly has taken good honest money out of the local economy. Its too far to go and blank.

I don't know the area where these buoys are, so I may be way off the mark with this. On some beaches around here, bouys are put down to designate an area where Jet Skis and boats are prohibited.

Any chance this is the case here?

the worst possible thing to do would be to cut the buoy ropes on gillnets as they would continue "ghost fishing", with the rotting fish attracting more and more fish into the net.

those buoy look like markers or moorings for some watersports or other? it's not possible to stretch a gillnet between two existing anchors. It is necessary to drop anchor gillnet anchor in that order. If you were poaching wouldn't you use slightly more discreet markers?

good to see that anglers concerns are being taken seriously ok it was a case of false alarm, but at least we know that ppl are keeping an eye out and that action can be taken where necessary. Well done pat and donal for the action

Its great to hear that there were no nets attached. Fair play to Donal who was on top of this situation well before I was and has been vigilant in similar incidents in the past. Donal is doing good work with the SWFB. As regards JW's comments I would tend to agree, the buoys are a bit conspicous. However, this begs the question asto what are these buoys for? This is too dangerous a bay for watersports, with strong currents and plenty of submerged features.

Fair play to all the people involved on such a quick response on finding out what was going on. nice one lads.

Well done to all concerned......


Can I just echo JW's comments...... PLEASE PLEASE NEVER CUT GILL NETS.....

Keep a little petrol in a can in your car, if you can, haul them and burn them...... Make sure your with some people for your own protection. Remember to report all nets the the RFB's

Kev

Not sure if the fisheries boards really care.

It is known where the illegal fishing is being carried out. Anybody know of any arrests or fines?

In fairness the fisheries officers do care and do put in a lot of good work. The current legislation is not helpful - it has to be proven that a netter, where in possession of bass, has so with the intention of sale. However, the same netter in possession of a salmon can be immediately and easily prosecuted.

In fairness the fisheries officers do care and do put in a lot of good work. The current legislation is not helpful - it has to be proven that a netter, where in possession of bass, has so with the intention of sale. However, the same netter in possession of a salmon can be immediately and easily prosecuted.

I'm not a lawyer, but I think that issue has more to do with interpretation of the law, rather than the law itself. Here's what it says:

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 sea-fishing 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.

8. No person shall, within the State, have in possession bass of size less than 40 centimetres measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail.