Fisheries &
Angling Legislation & Bye-Laws for Ireland's Shannon Region -
An Overview up to 2006
There are a myriad of Fisheries Bye
laws under the Fisheries Acts which are in many cases specific to a
particular fishery. These are listed where relevant on a fishery by
fishery basis in our Fishing Guides Angling sections. For details on
Fisheries Acts see
THE IRISH STATUTE BOOK - 1959 ACT
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NITRATES DIRECTIVE IN IRELAND
The following is an overview of the
important Angling Regulations/Bye Laws which cover fishing in the
Shannon region and nationally. For others, please check with us.
GENERAL FRESHWATER BYE LAWS |
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The only legal method to catch freshwater fish is by rod and line
(Bye-law No.595)
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A person may fish with not more than
two rods at any time (Bye-law No.595)
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It is illegal to transfer
live roach from one water to any other waters. (Bye-law No.561)
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The taking or killing of
by any person of more than one pike on any day is
illegal. (Bye-law No.667)
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Bye-Law No 797:
This Bye-law provides for a bag limit of 1 fish being either a
salmon or sea trout per angler per day from 1 September 2004 to 31 December 2004
and continues the imposition of a bag
limit of 1 fish per angler per day from 1 January to 31 May, and 3
fish from 1 June to the end of the fishing season, subject to a
total allowable catch of 20 fish per year. (Bye-Law No 797) August 2004.
NEW
SALMON AND SEA TROUT BAG LIMIT FROM SEPTEMBER 1st, 2005
Anglers please note that there will not be a one salmon or sea trout (over
40cms) per day limit on anglers in September. This has been confirmed by
the DoCMNR. The end of season restriction in Bye-Law No: 797 of 2004
as above related to the period 1 September 2004 to 31 December 2004 only.
Anglers can catch up to three salmon or sea trout (over 40cms) per day,
subject to a maximum of 20 until the end of the respective seasons.
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All salmon (and sea trout over 40cm) kept must be tagged, and the
logbook filled out accordingly. See Logbook Scheme.
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It is prohibited
to sell rod caught salmon or sea trout over 40cm between January 1st
and October 31st.
GENERAL PIKE & COARSE FISHING BYE LAWS |
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It is illegal to have or
to use live bait as bait (Bye-law No.592)
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A person may fish with not
more than two rods for coarse angling at any one time.
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It is illegal to transfer
live roach from one water to any other waters. (Bye-law No.561)
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The taking or killing of
by any person of more than one pike on any day is
illegal.
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The taking and killing by
any person of any pike exceeding 6.6lbs (3kg) in weight
is illegal.
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It is illegal for any one
person to have in their possession more than one dead
whole pike or alternatively more than 3.3lbs (1.5kg) by
weight of pike flesh or parts.
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It is permitted to take
one whole specimen size whole, ungutted pike on any one
day. River specimen pike 20lbs (9.072) - Lake specimen
pike 30lbs (13.608kg) on any day
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The bye law also provides
for the register to be set up by each Regional Fisheries
Board of all premises and other storage facilities used
by persons acting as holders of pike for third parties.
Furthermore all pike flesh, up to a maximum of 1.5kg per
person must be wrapped separately with the anglers name
clearly visible.
These laws were introduced in order that all anglers will
continue to enjoy excellent sport on all our rivers and lakes and we require
your co-operation in ensuring they are adhered to
COMMERCIAL FISHING BYE
LAWS TO 2006 |
These Bye Laws are
just some of the important conservation measures introduced to
protect our fish life and aquatic habitats. Listed from most recent.
Others are available on request.
19th April 2005
Bye Law No. 789, 2005 -
Salmon & Seatrout Conservation Byelaw
This Bye-law controls
commercial salmon and sea trout fishing during the year 2005
applicable from the 19th April 2005.
10th February 2005
Bye Law No 281-2005 - Shannon Fisheries Region Close Season for
Draft Netting of Trout on Lough Ree
7th April 2004
Bye Law No 794-2004 - Salmon and Trout Conservation
Bye Law No. 752 of 1998 -
Management of Eel Fishing Bye-law
SPECIFIC ANGLING BYE LAWS TO 2006 |
These Bye Laws
cover the most recent introductions as conservation measures to
protect our fish life and aquatic habitats. Listed from most recent.
Others are available on request.
CONSERVATION OF SALMON AND SEA
TROUT BYE-LAW NO. 802, 2006
Provides for the restriction on the annual angling
bag limit of 10 fish per angler for 2006;
This Bye-law provides for:
(a) a total allowable catch of 10
fish (being either salmon or sea trout or any combination of both
fish) in any year.
(b) a bag limit of 1 fish (being
either a salmon or sea trout) per angler per day from 1 January to
31 May, and
(c) a bag limit of 3 fish (being
either salmon or sea trout) per angler per day from 1 June to the
end of the fishing season, with the exception of 2006 where a bag
limit of 1 fish (being either a salmon or sea trout) per angler per
day applies from 1 September 2006 to 31 December 2006.
CONSERVATION OF SALMON AND SEA
TROUT BYE-LAW NO. 803, 2006
This Bye-law prohibits the taking
by rod and line any salmon or sea trout from the 8 fishery
districts specified in the Bye-law, prohibits the use of any fish
hooks other than single barbless hooks and imposes a ban on the use
of worms as bait in angling during the period 1 September 2006 to 31
December 2006.
1st May 2003
Bye Law 787-2003 - Shannon Fisheries Region Control of Angling in
Lough Ree Bye-law
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This Bye-law
introduces the following measures to control Angling in Lough Ree
(a) prohibits, the taking and possession of trout less than 14
inches in length (b) prohibits a person from taking and
possessing more than 4 trout in any day (c) prohibits a person
from using more than 2 rods at any one time (d) revokes Bye-law
No. C.S.137, 1989 thereby extending the end of the close season
for trout until and including the last day of February each
year applicable from 1st May 2003
Bye Law No. 754, 1999 - Shannon Fisheries
Region Trout Conservation on Lough Derg
SALMON AND SEA TROUT
LOGBOOK SCHEME |
WILD SALMON AND SEATROUT TAGGING
SCHEME REGULATIONS 2006
The Minister of State signed the Wild Salmon
and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations for the 2006 season on the
25th April.
Anglers must be in compliance with the
wild salmon carcass and log book scheme as introduced by the Dept of
Communications, Marine & Natural Resources on January 1st 2001. There
are a series of leaflets for anglers on tagging their catch and
recording relevant details in their logbooks. In brief, all
salmon rod licence holders shall affix a tag to
These tags will identify salmon and sea
trout (over 40cms), which have been caught legally, and will therefore
allow for an enumeration of the catch.
SALMON
TAGS & LOGBOOKS 2006:
Fishermen are required by law to
return the logbook and all unused tags to the issuing Regional
Fisheries Board within whose fishery region he/she resides
(in this case licences purchased through the Shannon Regional
Fisheries Board) within seven days following the end of the
licence expiry, even when no fish have been caught.
FISHING ShRFB MANAGED FISHERIES |
The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
control many fisheries in the region referred to as the
MIDLAND FISHERIES GROUP. A fishing permit is required to
fish these waters
Rates 2006:
Adult Annual €35.00; Pensioner/Disability Annual €18.00;. Juvenile Annual
€12.00 Juvenile 1 Day €2.00
Day Permit €10.00 Visitors 21 Day:
€18.00. Share Certificate from the North
Shannon Development Co-Operative Society is required to fish the
Upper Shannon and tributaries located upstream of Banagher Bridge on the
Shannon in Co Offaly. A Share Certificate can be purchased from most of
the larger tackle dealers which are advertised on this site.
A Fishing Permit can be purchased Online
CLICK HERE
Each fishery has it's own angling
regulations which are listed on our fishing guides angling section. However
general rules apply as follows
Anglers
can only fish one rod per angler
Rods must
not be left unattended.
All under
sized fish must be returned to the water with as little
injury as possible
The
Management reserve the right to refuse and revoke a
permit to anyone violating, these regulations or acting
in a manner detrimental to the fishery, fishing or the
surrounding countryside.
Anglers
who are found to have acted in an 'unsporting
manner' may have their permit revoked
BASS
Note: Penalties
for breach of the above laws include confiscation of tackle and
heavy fines.
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