Illegal fishing a 'real danger' for Ireland's freshwater stock amid biodiversity crisis

Wild Atlantic salmon is consistently the most “poached” fish in the country, and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is concerned at the high levels of illegal fishing activity in the country. Photo: Paul Nicklen/National Geographic/Getty Images

There were more than 100 prosecutions taken for illegal fishing activity in last year, as Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) warned that Ireland’s freshwater fish are in “real danger” from such crimes.

The state agency tasked with protecting and conserving freshwater fish and habitats said that it carried out an extra 3,000 patrols in 2021, bringing its total to 36,379 for the year, during which they issued 293 fines and 715 cautions under fisheries legislation.