#Fishing - Fishermen wishing to apply for oyster dredge licences for the 2015 season must apply on the official form to the relevant River Basin District Office before 12 noon on Monday 17 November 2014.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) says this process became necessary due to the fact that there are many SACs and Natura 2000 sites in Ireland that also contain oyster fisheries.
As the exploitation of these fisheries will requires dredging, appropriate assessment of these fishing activities will have to be undertaken.
In the absence of appropriate assessments, against predetermined conservation objectives, it is necessary to ensure that no intensification of the fishing activity for oysters be permitted.
This has been further strengthened by the issuing of a direction from the Minister in accordance with Section 278 (5)(a) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 as amended and the Habitats Directive as transposed by European Commission (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (SI 477/ 2011).
For further information, details on the official application procedure and the application form, visit the IFI website HERE.