Fisheries Protection

The Southern Regional Fisheries Board, "protection" function is divided into 3 districts. Each district has river catchment or two including their tributaries as part of their remit.

The Lismore District has the remit of the River Blackwater (Munster) and all its associated tributaries.
The West Waterford District has the remit of the River Suir, Upper section of the River Nore to Brownsbarn, the River Colligan and all their tributaries.
The East Waterford District has the remit of the River Barrow and the tidal section of the River Nore (below Browns barn).

Each District has an Inspector and an Assistant Inspector with a staff of 5 fishery officers, thus a staff complement of 7.

The duties of the staff within this function carry out the following tasks as part of their daily duties:

Enforcing primary Fisheries Legislation including By Laws and Orders.
Protecting Fish Species including, Salmon, Sea Trout, Brown Trout, Eels, Coarse Fish, Sea Bass and Twaite Shad.
Mobile and Foot Patrols on Tributaries and Freshwater Main Channels.
Mobile Foot and Boat Patrols of Tidal Rivers.
Mobile Foot and Boat Patrols of Estuaries and Coast.
Sea Patrolling of the coastline within 12 miles from Base Lines between Killen Bay Co. Wexford and Ballycotton Co. Cork (within our legislative remit).
Seizure of illegal fishing equipment, prosecution of offenders, court duties
Enforcing the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging (Quota) Scheme Regulations, which changes annually and has to be enforced during each fishing season (commercially and recreationally).
Participation in cross-functional duties which include assisting S.R.F.B. / C.F.B. research / development sections as required.
Assisting Fisheries Environmental Officers (FEO's) to monitor districts for possible environmental problems.
Protection Duties are carried out on Regional Fisheries Boards Rigid Inflatable Boats (R.I.B.'s), two new 7.5 metre Tornado Crafts were issued to S.R.F.B. during 2003.
Participation in patrols on board Central Fisheries Board, Long-range Patrol Vessel's (L.P.V's) along the Southern Coast.
Participation in Naval Patrols (LE Orla 2003) also take place annually on Southern Coast.
Staff participate with the Aer Corp in their CASA Maritime Patrol Aircraft exercises over the waters of the Southern Coast.

R.I.B. Patrols explained

Under Health and Safety Regulations and the S.R.F.B. Safety Statement requirements, when we carry out these patrols we use a minimum of 2 vessels to the six mile limit although in some cases there are single vessel patrols in estuaries and other sheltered waters. Nationally there are over 30 R.I.B. vessels solely for the purpose of Inland Fisheries Patrols. These boats patrol inshore waters. The majority of patrols take place within estuaries, and not further than 6 miles from shore.

The R.I.B.'s also patrol many of the nation's lakes and rivers. The R.I.B.'s are complemented by 4-wheel drive vehicles and trailers to allow patrols of inland waters inaccessible to larger vessels. All staff who participate in these patrols have undergone extensive training and refresher courses in sea survival, fire fighting / damage control, RIB and Cox'n training, capsize and rough weather boat handling at Haulboline Naval Base in Cork. In general the RIB patrols consist of two or more boats with at least 3 officers in each boat.

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