Dr. Cecil Beamish:

It is largely the Dutch-owned pelagic fleet which is fishing legally to avail of the entitlements it holds to shares of particular pelagic species. Whether they freeze fish on board or take them as a fresh catch to a port does not make much difference since they will probably not be landed in Ireland. They are very visible because they are processing on board, rather than bringing the catch ashore to be processed. They have been a feature of the landscape for many years. Provided they operate legally within the limits which is a matter for the control authorities to ensure, they have a legal entitlement to catch fish and a share of the stocks, although the entitlements are not transparent.