Report illegal fishing or make a complaint
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) encourages genuine licence and permit holders, and the public, to help protect fisheries by reporting illegal activity and pollution incidents. By reporting these incidents you are helping to improve and protect angling for the future.
Report illegal fishing activity
If you suspect someone is involved in illegal fishing or you have witnessed it, you can report it to the following non-emergency service:
During office hours Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm:
- phone: 028 3833 9748
Outside office hours, contact the illegal fishing and pollution hotline:
- phone: 0800 807 060
Give as much information as you can about the incident you are reporting.
You can make this report anonymously – you do not have to give your name or contact details unless you want to.
Inland Fisheries enforcement staff will review the information you give and investigate the matter. They will not be able to tell you the outcome of their investigation.
Inland Fisheries will only take action if they find the incident reported is suspected of breaking the Fisheries Act (NI) 1966 and associated regulations.
Prosecutions
DAERA fisheries protection officers have powers to investigate illegal fishing activity in Northern Ireland inland waters.
Pollution incidents
If there has been pollution or a fish kill, contact the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) pollution hotline.
- phone: 0800 807 060
Note - email reporting is only checked during office hours.
Enquiries, complaints and compliments
If you have any enquiries, complaints or compliments, contact DAERA Inland Fisheries.