Dr. Cecil Beamish:

There is a common control framework under the European Union. Vessels have to report in every night on what they have caught and what they have on board. They also have to report what they have when they land and inspection checks occur either at landing or at sea. In our 200 mile zone, the Naval Service has the responsibility at sea and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority has responsibility on shore. The satellite vessel monitoring system provides visibility on the locations of vessels. The control authorities know who is in the waters, who is fishing, what is being reported every night and what is reported when landed. They work to cross-check all of this information to verify the accuracy of the reporting. The control authorities also work together through the European Fisheries Control Agency to co-ordinate their activities. All the operational aspects are done by the SFPA. I cannot discuss that in detail, however, because it is the authority's independent role to perform the operational aspects of law enforcement.

A review is under way at European Union level of what is known as the control regulation. Further fisheries control initiatives will undoubtedly be taken as this is an ongoing scenario. There is a common control framework, however, and the control agencies co-operate, work together and receive shared inspection plans. The Commission has inspectors who inspect the inspectorates of the member states. They carry out inspections of how Ireland, Spain, the UK and other countries are performing their control functions. That is the hierarchy in place.

In terms of the western waters plan, the idea is that an annual report will be produced by the regional member states' groups and the plan would be subject to a five year review by the Commission.