On Rosses Point island, the world's an Oyster for the hares....or is it?
New questions have arisen about the netting of hares on Oyster Island, a practice that, it's believed, has been going on for more than 50 years for the purposes of live coursing.
Claims that hares were netted on two west coast islands last year without the permission of landowners are now being investigated by the Department of the Environment.
According to the Irish Council Against Blood Sports, hares were netted on Oyster Island, at Rosses Point and on Hog Island, off Clare, in breach of Section 44 of the Wildlife Act.
The Council said documents obtained by it under the Freedom of Information Act from the National Parks and Wildlife Service showed that in December 2009, thirty-four hares were taken from Oyster Island
The Council added that when gárdaí instructed hare netters to leave the island on December 16th, 2009, it was recorded that 47 hares were taken.
The Depart6ment of the Environment issues the Irish Coursing Club with licences to capture hares.
The netting season for hares for the 2010-2011 season began last weekend, and over the winter, those involved in the organization of coursing meetings will be netting the animals for coursing meetings.
