Recent violence against Cork gardai who tried to stop poaching at the city's bridges during the salmon run on the Lee brought into focus the inadequate manpower and resources available to the South Western Regional Fisheries Board (SWRFB). Gardai attempted to protect the dwindling stocks and give the salmon a fair chance of reaching the spawning beds once they entered our river systems.
Mr David Forde is the angling representative on the SWRFB. He says a huge area from Ballycotton Head to Kerry Head is patrolled by just over 20 fishery officers and one mobile unit which operates at certain times of the year. "With resources like this, we are up against it from the start. How can we possibly police the sea, lakes and rivers in our area when the mobile patrol isn't even available on a permanent basis? We must be given more resources and manpower as a matter of urgency," Mr Forde said.
The problem of resources for the SWRFB is compounded this year because the board's only means of generating income, through permits and licences, has been hit by the foot-and-mouth scare. Otherwise, the annual budget for this area is over £1 million.
"We all know where and when parts of the region are most vulnerable to poachers. What we need is a permanent mobile patrol capable of striking anywhere quickly and without warning. We also need more experienced men on the ground to give back-up to our highly dedicated staff who do a wonderful job against huge odds," said Mr Forde.
"The salmon are now particularly vulnerable because they will be spawning in the beds. That's when the most unscrupulous poachers rip the eggs from their bellies and make a paste which is sold illegally as bait." He added that "the Minister, the fishery board and all those who love the sport of angling, have the same interest at heart which is to conserve the salmon stocks. But it will only happen when adequate resources are provided in areas like ours."