Commercial Fishing/ Fish Dealer Licence

The following is for general information purposes only. All further queries regarding this information should be directed to the competent authorities listed below.

Competent Authority

Inland Fisheries Ireland is the national inland fisheries authority involved in the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. Inland Fisheries Ireland also ensures that national and local fisheries laws are observed in both inland waterways and out to the 12-mile fishing limit off the coast. 

Procedures for applying for a commercial fishing licence

In April 2024, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan T.D., made the following order and Bye-laws:

Control of Fishing for Salmon (Amendment) Order S.I. No. 81 of 2024.  This Order authorises the issue of commercial fishing licences by Inland Fisheries Ireland and sets out the criteria under which those licences may be issued and prescribes the maximum number of commercial licences which may be issued.

Notices advising fishermen of the application process and where to apply are placed in provincial papers in advance of the commercial fishing season each year.

Conservation of Salmon and Sea Trout (Draft Nets and Snap Nets) Bye-law No. 1010, 2024.  This Bye-Law sets out the opening and closing dates (and hours) for the draft net and snap net salmon and sea trout commercial fishing season 2024 and prohibits draft net and snap net fishing for salmon and sea trout in all fishery districts except those mentioned in the Schedule to the Bye-law.

Conservation of Eel Fishing Bye-Law No. C.S. 335, 2024.  This Bye-law prohibits the taking, or attempting to take, fishing for or attempting to fish for, aiding or assisting the taking of or fishing for, eel in any fishery district in the State. It also prohibits being in possession of, selling or offering for sale or reward, or purchasing eel caught or taken by any means in any fishery district in the State.

 

Procedures for applying for a fish dealers licence for salmon and sea trout, eels, molluscan shellfish

First time application: A certificate of fitness must be obtained from the District Court and attached to the completed application form which is available from the local Inland Fisheries Ireland office.

Renewals:  A completed application form with the appropriate fee should be forwarded to the local Inland Fisheries Ireland office by the specified closing date.

S.I. 462/1994 - Fisheries (Salmon, Eel and Molluscan Shellfish Dealers' Licences) Regulations, 1994.

 

Further Information

Please find in the below link contact details for Inland Fisheries Ireland

Contact details

Inland Fisheries Ireland
3044 Lake Drive
Citywest Business Campus
Dublin
D24 CK66
Ireland

Tel: +353 1 884 2600

Homepage: http://www.fisheriesireland.ie/

Email: info@fisheriesireland.ie

 

  Last updated: 2nd September 2024