Inland Fisheries Ireland & legislation

1. Mark.H.V.Corps
IFI Angling Advisor
Marine & Countryside Guiding
FETAC Level 6

2. IFI Vision
‘To provide an accessible &
sustainable, world class, inland fisheries
resource for all’

3. Mission
‘To ensure the valuable natural
resources of Inland Fisheries & Sea
Angling are conserved, managed,
developed & promoted in their own
right to generate a positive return for
the community & the environment’

4. IFI
• Formed 1st July, 2010
• Amalgamation of CFB & 7 RFB’s into
single agency
• Ireland has 70,000 km of rivers &
streams 144,000 hectares of loughs
• Also responsible for Irish sea angling

5. Threats to the
returning salmon

6. Fisheries Protection
• IFI charged with ensuring the protection
& conservation of fisheries resource,
both fish & habitats
• Responsibility covers inland waterways
& out to the 12 m limit off the coast
• Species include all freshwater fish, bass
& certain molluscs

7. • As well as enforcing the Fisheries Acts,
IFI is empowered to enforce the Water
Pollution Acts 1977 & 1990

8. Protecting Fish Stocks
• Primary role is the protection &
conservation of inland fisheries
• IFI enforces a range of fisheries
laws including various provisions of the
Fisheries Acts, Bye-Laws, Statutory
Instruments, Orders etc

9. • Focus is the protection salmon stocks
• IFI staff also enforce various
conservation measures for brown trout,
sea trout, pike, coarse fish & bass
• Responsible for protection of oyster
fisheries

10. IFI patrol extensively
• Coastal (to the 12 m limit)
• Patrolled by large patrol vessels & RIB’s
crewed by Fishery Officers
• Assistance provided by the Naval
Service & aerial patrols carried out by
the Aer Corps with Fishery Officers

14. • Inland waters
• Are patrolled on foot, boat (Kayak &
even jet ski) & vehicle
• Patrols are carried out 24 hrs a day, 7
days a week, all year
• Officers (under Fisheries Acts) are
empowered to seize fish, equipment,
boats, vehicles, issue on-the-spot fines &
prosecute offenders through the courts

15. Environmental Protection
• Protection of aquatic environment is
important. Clean water fundamental for
healthy fish stocks
• Protecting water quality is preventive.
Emphasis ensuring any planned developments
do not negatively impact on water quality

16. • Proposed forestry developments are
examined with a view to protecting water
quality & recommendations made as
appropriate
• In addition to monitoring of housing
developments, planned infrastructure projects
including roads, bridges, sewerage schemes,
industries etc
• Projects are monitored during construction

17. • In addition to monitoring of housing
developments, planned infrastructure projects
including roads, bridges, sewerage schemes,
industries etc
• Projects are monitored during construction
• Forestry developments are examined whilst
protecting water quality

18. • IFI deals with a range of reports in relation to
pollution incidents. Incidents are investigated
& follow-up action taken as appropriate
• To minimise threats of agricultural pollution,
farm inspections are carried out in various
areas yearly, identified problems highlighted
• IFI has ongoing water quality monitoring
programmes in a number of areas weekly
• Programmes provide information in relation
to the main sources of nutrients entering
water courses

19. To report pollution or
poaching 24 hrs a day
phone
1890 34 74 24

21. Questions?