The Inland Fisheries (Amendment) Act 2017 came into operation in Ireland on 11 July 2017 and amends the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. The Act aims to resolve an issue that came to light in February 2017 concerning the Inland Fisheries Ireland's (IFI) powers to prosecute.
The IFI is the statutory agency responsible for inland fisheries in Ireland and operates under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Climate Actions and Environment. The IFI is responsible for the conservation, protection, development and promotion of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources.
The Act confers an explicit power on the IFI to bring and prosecute summary proceedings for inland fisheries offences. The Act bestows the IFI with the power to fully enforce the Inland Fisheries Acts and carry out its responsibilities regarding the protection and conservation of Ireland's valuable inland fisheries and sea angling resources.
Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, T.D., stated that "the early passage of this Act into law safeguards our valuable inland fisheries resources and ensures that there is no period during which offences under the Inland Fisheries Acts can be committed with impunity."
Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital development, Sean Kyne, went on to state that the Act empowers the IFI, ensuring that it has clear powers to act to in cases of river pollution and to combat the poaching of fish stocks.
Editor's note
Wondering why we're covering Republic of Ireland legislation? Watch this space...
