Man avoids conviction for illegal sea bass fishing on West Cork beach

Court was told the nine fish defendant had caught were smaller than the minimum permitted size of 42cm and the maximum number of sea bass of the legal size that could be taken was two per day

The court was told fisheries officers in Roscarberry observed the defendant through binoculars reeling in small silvery fish. Picture: Andy Gibson

An Albanian man who was sea fishing on a West Cork beach has avoided being convicted for taking more than the permitted number of sea bass and taking sea bass that were smaller than the permitted size.

Solicitor Vincent Coakley, acting for Inland Fisheries Ireland, told Clonakilty District Court Ergys Gucija, who is originally from Albania but resident in Ireland for several years, was being prosecuted for contravening the sea bass fishing regulations.

The court was told that on October 19, 2024, two fisheries officers were on patrol in an unmarked car in the Rosscarbery area of West Cork. While standing at the end of Rosscarbery Pier at 5.10pm, they spotted a man fishing from Warren Beach on the other side of the bay.

The court was told the officers observed the man through binoculars and saw he was reeling in small silvery fish that could have been a sea bass. The officers drove around the bay to the beach, where they met with Gucija, who was fishing with his nine-year-old son.

The officer spoke to Gucija and saw he had a bag containing nine sea bass of lengths between 21cm and 26cm in a bag. The court was told the fish were smaller than the minimum permitted size of 42cm, and the maximum number of sea bass of the legal size that could be taken was two per day.

The court heard no licence was required to catch the fish in salt water, but the regulations must be adhered to. The court was told Gucija would have to have walked within a few metres of a notice near the carpark warning about the regulations as he made his way to the beach. The fish were seized from Gucija as well as two rods, a tackle bag and a net.

Speaking with the help of an interpreter, Gucija told the court he was aware of the regulations for river fishing but did not realise there were regulations for fishing from the sea. He admitted he should have familiarised himself with the rules beforehand. 

The court heard he was on the beach with his family and worked as a snagger in the construction industry. The court was told that Gucija had no previous convictions.

Judge Joanne Carroll said if she went fishing in Albania she would make sure she knew the rules first, but accepted Gucija may not have been aware he was breaking the law. The tackle bag and net were seized but the two rods, one of which belonged to Gucija’s young son, were returned. 

Gucija was given the benefit of the Probation Act and ordered to make €300 contribution to the court poor box.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme