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Foreshore access

  • 22-07-2016 1:24pm
    #1
    bpmurray
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭


    What is the law about accessing the shore? If someone owns the land adjoining a good fishing spot, is there any way you can access it without trespassing? Similarly for rivers & lakes? I know that the beach is public, but how much of the shore is? And can rivers and lakes be private property (separate from fishing rights)?


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  • #2
    Zzippy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,166 ✭✭✭✭Zzippy


    bpmurray wrote: »
    What is the law about accessing the shore? If someone owns the land adjoining a good fishing spot, is there any way you can access it without trespassing? Similarly for rivers & lakes? I know that the beach is public, but how much of the shore is? And can rivers and lakes be private property (separate from fishing rights)?

    For sea fishing, you are permitted to access anywhere along the shoreline if you can access it from below the high water mark - e.g. walking along a beach. If you have to access the shore from above the HWM, you need to use a recognised public access or have landowner permission.

    For freshwater angling, it's very different. You must have permission to fish in order to access rivers or lakes trough private land - either own the fishing rights, purchase a permit, or be a member of a club that has the rights. Private property means you must have permission to cross land to reach rivers or lakes, but if you have permission to fish through one of the paths above, you are entitled to access along the riverbank or shore of a lake within (IIRC) 3 metres of the bank, or through recognised public access points. You do not have the right to walk in any way you like through private property.

    Note that fishing rights ownership in many areas is unknown, or a grey area. Even where you believe the fishing is in public ownership you should ask landowner permission.


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