Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Nov 1998

Vol. 496 No. 1

Written Answers. - Illegal Fishing.

Ivor Callely

Question:

95 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the value of fines imposed for illegal fishing for each of the years from 1996 to date in 1998; the fines collected; the use these moneys were put to; the most common recurring problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20960/98]

Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources (Dr. Woods)

The value of fines imposed and collected in respect of sea fisheries offences in the period 1996 to 1998 is as follows:—

	1996	1997	1998 (to date)
	£	£	£
Fines imposed	1,381,402	574,243	130,670
Fines collected	779,763	1,181,893	263,006

The moneys collected on foot of fines for sea fisheries offences accrue to the benefit of the Exchequer, through payment to the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources as appropriations in aid.

The most common offences leading to the imposition of fines are those relating to vessel's logbooks.

The value of fines imposed and collected in respect of inland fisheries offences for the years in question is as follows:

	1996	1997	1998 (to date)
	£	£	£
Fines imposed	22,934	23,170	10,585
Fines collected*	12,294	8,070	2,770

*These figures do not include fines collected by the Southern Fisheries Board. I will forward these to the Deputy in the near future. Also the fines collected in these years relate in part to offences going back to the early 1990s.

The moneys collected on foot of fines by the various fisheries boards are expended into fulfilling their statutory functions in relation to the protection, development and promotion of inland fisheries.

The most common offences leading to the imposition of fines are; illegal netting for salmon on rivers; illegal use of prawn and shrimp by anglers; illegal interference/taking of fish on spawning beds; breaches of coarse fish by-laws; and illegal use of fixed stake nets on the shore.