Net Drama in Inishowen: Bailiffs Snare Man in Retrieval Attempt

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) officers who were on patrol in South Inishowen in recent weeks intercepted a man who attempted to retrieve a fishing net near Buncrana.

The IFI staff were on patrol in the early hours when they came across the man at 5:10am and discovered two sea trout trapped in the large net at a beach in Buncrana. 

Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and an IFI spokesperson said they are “following a definite line of inquiry in relation to this case.”

IFI said that they are committed to the protection of fish species and their habitats amidst the use of these illegal fishing nets.

“Inland Fisheries Ireland will continue to protect and conserve Ireland’s wild fish stocks through patrols and investigations,” an IFI spokesperson said.

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Inland Fisheries Ireland is a state agency responsible for the protection, management, conservation, and development of Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources. The IFI officers regularly patrol waterways to ensure compliance with fishing regulations and to prevent illegal activities like poaching.

There were 138 illegal fishing nets seized by IFI fisheries staff during patrols and inspections across Ireland in 2024.