A Stewartstown fisherman has been fined almost £500 for a number of offences relating to Lough Neagh.
Patrick Ryan, (69) of Killycanavan Road, was served with a £465 fine after he was found guilty of five breaches of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 and one breach of the Fisheries Regulations (2014) at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
On July 13, 2018 Fisheries Protection Officers from DAERA Inland Fisheries were carrying out quay inspections around Lough Neagh, when they detected Ryan in a quay upon a commercial fishing boat removing fish he had caught from illegal monofilament nets.
Ryan was given 26 weeks to pay the total fine of £465 which included a £15 offender levy. A disposal order was also granted for the disposal of the nets.
The outcome in this case demonstrates the commitment of DAERA Inland Fisheries enforcement staff in pursuing those whose actions have a detrimental impact on fish stocks.
