Defiant anglers stage environmental protest against bylaws

Three Galway trout anglers have refused to pay fines for illegally removing pike from Lough Corrib – as part of a deliberate, environmental protest against laws that protect invasive, non-native species.

Don Stiffe, Stephen Greaney and Michael McGrath, all Headford based, deliberately broke bylaw 809 – and ignored the fines – in order to challenge legislation that protects predatory pike and coarse fish on the Corrib system, which is an SAC (Special Area of Conservation).

Now, anglers across the West could follow their lead and intentionally and illegally remove coarse fish from the Corrib to highlight the need to repeal bylaws 806 and 809.

“Do they want to make criminals out of us all?” asked Michael McGrath.

During an extensive interview with the Connacht Tribune, the trio were unapologetic for breaking the law to highlight the flaws in the law.

And they have appealed to Environment Minister Eamon Ryan to intervene to protect salmon and trout from predation.

The three men insist that the bylaws are “repugnant” to Irish and EU legislation and must be repealed.

They fear that without proper management of predatory pike, native species will be wiped out.

This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the interview, see this week’s Connacht Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.