Inland fisheries is urging landowners along local waterways in the Shannonside region to conduct consultation before carrying out any works on or near watercourses
The appeal comes after a Longford man was convicted and fined €1,000 and ordered to pay a further €1,700 towards costs and expenses at Longford District Court earlier this year following a prosecution taken by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
The man was convicted of carrying out works on a 90m section of the Aughnacliffe River on the 30th of June last year that involved the removal of a substantial amount of gravel from the channel of the river and causing the destabilisation of the bank.
The works were carried out in an area of spawning habitat for wild brown trout and disturbed and injured sensitive spawning beds and bank where the spawn or fry of trout may be according to a fisheries expert.
The IFI is reminding the public that it is a landowner's responsibility to get in contact with their agricultural advisor or Inland Fisheries Ireland before carrying out any works in or along on watercourses.
