All Lough Foyle polluters prosecuted

EVERY instance of pollution in the Lough Foyle that caused the death of fish resulted in a successful prosecution by the Lough’s Agency – according to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

During a debate on marine life and aquaculture, Minister Michelle O’Neill also announced that there have been no instances of ‘fish-kills’ by pollution this year – something she described as “positive.”

She said: “The agency has advised that seven cases involving pollution incidents have been brought to court. The agency has also advised that there have been no pollution incidents that have led to any fish kills this year. That is positive.”

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The work of the Lough’s Agency was given much praise during the debate, with unanimous condemnation of attacks on Agency workers and volunteers.

In her statement on the work of the North/South Ministerial Council, she commented on the success of the Lough’s Agency: “In 2011, agency staff dealt with 54 rod-related offences and 44 seizures. Agency protection staff also seized 161 illegal nets, 12 boats, 36 bags of oysters and two cars as well as various other items, including knives, balaclava masks and batons. Staff have dealt with 134 pollution incidents and taken 11 sets of statutory samples.

“Regarding environmental protection, the agency successfully convicted every individual or company that had caused a fish kill by pollution in the Foyle area in 2011.”

She added: “The improvement in the oyster population of Lough Foyle was noted, and we encouraged the agency to continue to develop management strategies to consolidate and refine these improvements.

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“We also noted the disappointing drop in sea survival of Atlantic salmon since the 1990s and welcomed the Loughs Agency’s action, following extensive consultation, in issuing a declaration suspending commercial fishing in Lough Foyle and the tidal Foyle and the restriction on angling carcass tags to help to improve the survival of Atlantic salmon.”

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