Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured a conviction against a landowner for dredging salmon and trout spawning beds in Co. Kerry.
Michael O’Shea of Bunaderreen north, Mastergeehy, Killarney, Co. Kerry was found to have removed spawning gravels over a 270m stretch of Kealadwneen stream – a tributary of the River Inny – and lowered the channel bed by up to 0.5m.
He also removed trees and vegetation along the stream bank, which IFI said compounded the harm done to the sensitive habitat.
The incident took place at Bunaderreen and Kealafreaghane West, Mastergeehy, Co. Kerry.
Commenting, Sean Long IFI’s south-western regional director, said: “This was an act of ecological destruction. The damage to this protected spawning habitat is incomprehensible.
“There has been a decline of over 30% in salmon and sea trout returns to the Inny River over the last three years, and no surplus exists to permit a harvest.”
The drainage works also caused a discharge of silt downstream, which settled on the riverbed gravels.
Fine for dredging
O’Shea must pay a fine of €750, and was also ordered to pay costs/expenses of €1,260 to IFI.
The case was heard at Caherciveen District Court last month, (November 14), and the incident occurred on dates between January 1 and January 31, 2024.
Sean Long continued: “The appropriate window for any instream works is between July and September, but only with the guidance and permission of IFI.
“During the closed season, from October to June, no works should take place in a river.
“Landowners and farmers need to seek all necessary and relevant information from their advisors, and from IFI, before carrying out any works near, or on, a watercourse adjacent to their land.
“Further guidance on this topic is available in the Minding Our Watercourses publication.”