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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 (new) national inland fisheries authority involved in the provision of certain commercial fishing and fish dealing licences. The key commercial areas involved in the provision of fish dealer’s licences are salmon and sea trout, molluscan shellfish and eels, and commercial fishing licences for salmon, sea trout & eels.

Procedures for applying for a commercial fishing licence

Commercial Salmon and Sea Trout fishing licence application procedures are set out in the Control of Fishing for Salmon Order of the relevant year and also as per the River Shannon Tidal Waters Regulations 1935.  A requirement of the application form is that a Peace Commissioner, a Clergyman or a member of the Gardai Siochana witnesses the application.

The Salmon and Sea trout fishery operates under quota and licence holders are issued with tags to manage the quota on a single river basis. Local Inland Fisheries Ireland staff facilitate this system of quota management. A fee, set annually, applies for successful applicants.

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

Commercial eel fishing licences are not currently available as the eel fishery is closed to exploitation.

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.

Further Information

If you are a service provider who is looking to provide commercial fishing services in Ireland, you may obtain further information in the about us section of the Inland Fisheries Ireland website in the link below.

About Us

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

Contact details